I was just 12 in Feb 64 and I remember I really was greatly influenced by the British Invasion. This song set a mood and image in my young mind and stayed with me all these years. A great song
Wonderful message at 0:54 when Petula looks into the camera and sings to you directly, "how can you lose" ... The hope, beauty, and promise melts my heart. Again @ 1:35 to 1:45 , not singing, but talking to you as a friend - "And you might find somebody kind to help and understand you, Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along" - beautiful lyrics and beautiful delivery.
I love your detailed analysis, but I enjoy the joy on your face even more. It says everything that actually needs to be said for the lay person. Thanks for what you do!
The Fil Smile of Approval. The highest award known to music !!!! There is no substitute for seeing your amazing smile when you do that voodoo that you do so WELLLLL !!!!!!!
This young dude knowledge about and enthusiasm for all kinds of music is wonderful. Full of great information and entertaining in equal measures. Well done and thank you for doing all these amazing videos Phil.
Petula looks absolutely stunning here and she remains so relaxed and connected to the song throughout this performance. One of my all time favorite performances from this era.
Petula Clark could really sing! My favorite female voice! Downtown, I remember when it played on the radio so much, it is the song that epitomizes that mid 60's era! Thanks Wings of Pegasus!
One more comment about this splendid video. The reason “Downtown” is so good is that it takes a personal experience and makes it universal. It came from the first visit of the English composer Tony Hatch to New York in 1964. Hatch was caught up in the sensory overload of Times Square, whose noise, traffic, and lights, gave him his syncopated rhythm (“the LIGHTS are MUCH BRIGHT-er THERE”), making the pulse of the city into a kind of abstract tone poem. But being an Englishman, Hatch didn’t know that Times Square was actually in Midtown (which would have been a terrible song title.) But what’s great about the song is its freshness. Hatch's visit was in September and he was still working on the lyrics on Oct. 16 when Petula Clark recorded it. This is why the song is forever date-stamped to 1964. The line that tells us to “listen to the rhythm of the gentle bossa nova” refers to “The Girl from Ipanema,” the bossa nova song that was a colossal hit that summer. A final footnote: that perky rhythm guitar in the original recording is played by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, then a much sought after studio musician.
Thank You So Much For Your Analysis Of Petula’s ‘Downtown’ Amazing Singer And Live Performer An 80 Year Career In Show Business Should Stand Up As An Example As Such Greatness … No Auto Tunes Or Correction Needed In This Performer Just Sheer Brilliance As An Artist ♥️
Great artist selection Fil! As a young boy I remember riding in the car and this song would come on the a m radio. Mom would grab the volume knob, crank up the volume and sing along with Petula. Thanks for bringing me back to 1967 with my Mom!
Phil, you’re so effective in explaining elements of a musical performance that a trained musician would take for granted in a way that is interesting but that an untrained ear would miss. Great job!
I remember when she hit the airways in the mid-60s in America, as an 11 year old boy I had such a crush on her. My favorite was Don't sleep in the subway darling. Thanks for the Memories Fil.
Great analysis! As somebody else said, your smile throughout the performance was also a great critique. I think everybody smiles when they hear and watch this video of “Downtown.“ It’s just such good music and puts one into a better mood than they were before the song started.
Very helpful analyses. So well explained. This was the hit that broke Petula through in the States and revived her career in Britain. After this, what a fabulous run she then had over three or so years with more Tony Hatch’s compositions! Until Adele, she was the best selling British singer in the USA - easy to see why when you listen to her “swinging” 60s style. Unbeatable.
Fil...I meant to tell you that it was this song that made me fall in love with my hubby 54 yrs ago! Our first date...at a concert..and when that song started playing I took his hand...maybe it sounds corny to some, but he never left my side after that! Six months later we married...and just celebrated our 54th anniversary! I played this at our 50th Anniversary Party...such memories! See Fil..music does bring lovers together! I may be 73, but I consider you my musical buddy!
Fil you are such a Godsend. I listened to this music for 60 years and never understood the complexities of this music. i know I feel very lucky to have grown up in this era. The number of artists and their hits seems to go to infinity.
I think Fil is the best music critic to ever grace us. Honestly, who else has the stones to detail Aerosmith one day and Petula Clark the next? The dude is spot on every time too. I just found these and I've enjoyed every one. One of my earliest musical memories is of Petula Clark singing this song. I can remember the words too. I remember listening to it on my little a.m. transistor radio and my earplug. Bobby Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" was another.
I was 10 years old in 67 and this song was so memorable to me. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it on WLS, am Chicago. I always knew there was something special about it! Thanks for helping me to understand it Fil! When I hear it nowadays, it takes me back to a happy place in time during my youth. Best Wishes! 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Same here PJ but I was 300 miles to the south picking it up on KXOK in Saint Louis. My local pool hall had a jukebox that played them all for a quarter or 3 plays for 50 cents.
We learned early on that Petula Clark will always be "where all the lights are bright!" She is my favourite singer. She treats her fans like friends & always (unless she's got a flight to catch) takes time to meet & greet us @ the stage door. She is a lovely person, professional, artistically, & personally. I adore her. Thank you for such compelling & comprehensive musical information.
Hi Fil! I was 8 then, and I remember very well hearing her on my parents Hi-Fidelity stereo system on a beautiful, breezy, Saturday afternoon in the Summertime of Southern California... Those were the happiest times of my life. Thank you.
Thank you for these great explanations, opening the mysteries of music to an ignoramus like me! When I was a kid, Petula Clark was very big in France, where I grew up. We loved her. We were feeling the effects of her talent without understanding how talented she is.
Fil, really appreciating your growing comfort in bringing forward and discussing the technical details of these performances. Never shy away from losing us when you go down that path as you are striking the perfect balance. Btw, this recording is one of those that just fitted and matched an AM radio back in the day for those of us who go back that far.
What an excellent performance and composition to allow you to dig into some basic music theory for your audience, Fil. You made it engaging for both musicians and non- musicians alike. Well done!
Great analysis, Fil! When this song popped on the charts here in the USA, the 1st British Invasion was in overdrive and we devoured all things British. "Downtown" was quickly a bullseye hit, especially when expressed by a young woman whose vocal stylings seemed to sound, to us, so ... uh, British! The atmosphere of this song is what always knocked me out. It evoked swinging London, Carnaby Street, colored lights and striking images in neon, guys in slim dark suits and girls in mini-skirts, chocolates and cinemas, exciting dance clubs and friendly little dives where one could take a real London cab through the sprinkling rain to find a cup of tea or coffee, or maybe a martini (shaken, not stirred)! We didn't know much about what English nightlife could be until Petula sang to us about it. After "Downtown" it seemed she charted a new single here every six months!
My cousins gave me a paper grocery bag full of 45s when I was a kid, and Downtown was amongst those records. I listened to it over and over. Great song!
I knew and worked with one of her background vocalists Linda Lee Lawley. Linda continued to perform in clubs until 3 days before we lost her. We miss her.
Your video's are educational. I'm appreciate you taking on different things. Again, it's 1967, I,m a 11 year old with an AM transistor radio glued to ear. I could have heard this, back to back with "White Rabbit", "By the time I get to Phoenix, and "Magic Bus". All between a commercial break!
N.J. Qualls It’s funny that you should mention Dean because, as I’m sure you must know, this song is from one of Petula’s appearances on his show in 1967. When she finished this solo, she and Dean performed a medley of songs. They sang very well together.
And I've listened to a couple of songs now, since I had not heard of you. I'm a classically and jazz trained drummer, so I so appreciate bands with professional and skilled musicians. Really enjoyed your songs. Not my type of music, but I so love your talent. Keep up the great work and thank you for your analysis. Really wonderful.
You're on a roll here Fil , 60's female heart throbs
4 года назад+1
She was one of the many fabulous British female singers in the 1960's, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Mary Hopkin, Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Helen Shapiro, Billie Davis and others.
This was my sisters favorite song. I too enjoy watching how you like these old performances from fantastic musicians. I’ve been truly blessed in my lifetime with such amazing music that fills the soundtrack of my life. This is one of those songs. Great analysis Fil. As always. ❤️🤘🏼
You have a fantastic gift for explaining music. Especially for laymen (people) that just like what they hear. As interesting as the song itself is, this was a short course in music appreciation that elevated her performance a few octaves . Thank you:)
Thank you for sharing this. This is the first song I remember hearing on the radio. I had heard it before, because I recognized it. I was walking across the yard of Henry Cook (that had been his farmyard) in Lennox, SD USA. I was probably about 4 years old, and we were walking to downtown Lennox to the street carnival that was there. Three of my older sisters were walking with me, and one of them had a "transistor radio" that was playing this song.
Nice one Fil.. a sweet classic tune😇🎙 Down - Town... yes ! What a clear / sharp voice ! This is the first time that I've ever listened to the whole song ! Good stuff & great analysis Fil... keep rockin' 😆🤘 Requests are on the way 😉
It’s interesting how so many people commenting can clearly remember where they were the first time they heard this song on the radio. I remember it too - I was 5 years old, in the car with my mother on a rainy day as she drove through Washington, DC. Memories like that are testament to a well composed, well arranged and produced, and well performed song. And your explanation in the video shows us why all those elements came together to make a classic, well-loved, and memorable song. Thanks!
It was the greatest music era ever. I miss the times when there were amazing singers and authentic musicians out there. The reality is today,s music doesn,t have anything memorable. Kids now have no idea what real music even was or is.
Great song mid 60s pre summer of love and the rock Era. The world would never be as innocent. Vietnam War, acid rock, anti establishment soon to come. Petula was great. Dione Warwick another great voice of that Era with the Burt Bacharach compositions.
Oh wow Fil you really did dig deep for this one 1967 ... she was my mom's favourite... as always your analysis are great that we can all understand them.
You have such a big beautiful smile that immediately makes me smile. The enjoyment you receive from listening so intently to these great singers warms my heart so much
Groovy!! Love hearing this again, it's from my childhood. I love how she pronounced every word so clearly, love her tone, love her dress, and her smile. Thanks for this!
I love this song. Whenever I hear it I go back to the place I first heard it, back when I was 4 years old, which was "downtown" Atchison, Kansas. I feel everything I did on that day and I still see everything as clearly now as I did then. It's a happy memory!
This was one of my favorite songs as a young child when we arrived in the US from Cuba in 1968. It was catchy and the lyrics were easy to sing for the non-English speaking. I thought it was such a happy and elegant escape to go Downtown!
Hey Fil, Yes I’m that old...I was a sophomore in HS...I loved this song! Good ole Petula. Man I wish I could pick u up in a time machine and whisk u back to 1964 , Ed Sullivan and the Beatles came on...changed the world man. Elvis more my brothers music. I liked the black artist in Chicago Howlin Wolf, Chess records, and Memphis Tn. With Beal street boys like BB King....and of course Robert Johnson...I played cross roads...ok , ok I’ll shut-up. I could go on forever. I studied music classically for 12 years and believe it or not, I took the history of rock n roll in college...yeah! Rock on 🤘🏻 Fil...
Fil represents the best of what RUclips has to offer. He generously give us an opportunity to learn from his experience and invaluable expertise, all presented with professionalism and kindness. Just watching him enjoy the videos is enough to brighten my day. Petula Clark was one of my father's favorite singers and just hearing that song again brought back many of the happiest memories of my early childhood.
As You know Fil! You do have one of the best comments section on RUclips a nice place to interact with other listeners/subscribers of your channel. it all start with a good Host.
You have a beautiful smile and way of being so polite and thoughtful in your comments. You are very gracious and every time I see your thumbnail posted and your smile my heart feels happy! God bless you!
i was 17 and i did have a 45 of that song i lived in a small town with a couple of cafe's a few stores but we thought that song meant everyone's town including mine..... thanks for the memory ......
I REMEMBER HEARING THIS SONG IN THE MID 60S I MIGHT HAVE BEEN THREE OR FOUR . I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT OF OUR CAR THIS SONG WAS PLAYING ON THE RADIO. WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN PORT TOWNSEND WASHINGTON ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF SEATTLE. MY MOM WAS WEARING A PAIL GREEN RAINCOAT A SCARF ON HER HEAD. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD WEAR GLOVES BACK THEN. IT SEEMED LIKE THEY SHE WAS SINGING ABOUT PORT TOWNSEND . I ALWAYS LOVED PETULA S VOICE.
That is what made this song great since I was thinking the same thing about Port Townsend, except my Port Townsend was Denver. It struck a chord with everyone in their city. Which reminds me of the first ultimate sell-out song, by Boston I think. They sang a song and said X city was the rock capitol, and each radio station couild insert the name of their city. I am sure someone will correct me since I am not sure of which band and I am fuzzy on the song itself.
My Port Townsend was Cincinnati. You remember correctly that your mother wore a scarf and gloves. Women were expected to dress up in “church clothes” when going downtown. I was little, but I had to wear my scratchy crinoline slip, hat, and dress shoes for these special trips to town. A woman would not consider wearing pants/trousers to church, or downtown.
I was a kid back then. This song captures the magic that was a city's downtown. Woolworth lunch counters, old GM buses, winter coats that weren't designer, just warm wool, and lonely streets on Sundays because shops were closed. Malls can't do it.
This is one of the first songs I remember on the radio at abt 4yrs old~sitting in the back seat of my dad's yellow VW bug! ( carseat & seatbelt free, btw-😬) Can u imagine?
@@rickrick5041 🤣 I remember lying down in the back window space- just rolling off if Dad, (sometimes drinking!), braked too hard!! This explains alot abt my later behaviors!😉 The 70s~
I was a sixteen year old kid working on a dairy farm in the middle of nowhere and every time this song came on the old am radio while I was mucking in the barn I can tell you it took me to a better place.Thanks again for the great memories and a great breakdown of what make these songs such classics.
As said by others here --- Excellent analysis!! I am 69 years old and remember hearing the 45 and always waiting for the three/four part harmony at the instrumental 'break' when the background ladies along with Ms. Clark sang 'Downtown' -- just loved the separation of the harmony. I noted that here during the performance, she sang the note at 1:27 and represented the harmony separation. Great to hear. Again, a great analysis!! I am convinced that even if most people cannot speak technically as to what is happening musically, most can detect quality and hear when 'something is not right.'
This was my favorite song when I was 4 years old. My dad worked 3rd shift and took care of me during the day while my mom worked. We used to ride the bus downtown to have lunch with my mom. When I hear this song, I am reminded of that time I spent with my dad. My dad passed away two years ago, so I'm happy to have this memory of him. Thanks Fil for another great reaction :).
Love Petula....but Fil....he is an amazing talent also....best talent onyou tube find this year. Just watch his face and how he loves every note when Petula sings. He is as fun to watch as she is
![Does this song have an eerie vibe to you? | Petula Clark - Downtown [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/558iwfhyEJg/mqdefault.jpg)
I was just 12 in Feb 64 and I remember I really was greatly influenced by the British Invasion. This song set a mood and image in my young mind and stayed with me all these years. A great song
Wonderful message at 0:54 when Petula looks into the camera and sings to you directly, "how can you lose" ... The hope, beauty, and promise melts my heart. Again @ 1:35 to 1:45 , not singing, but talking to you as a friend - "And you might find somebody kind to help and understand you, Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along" - beautiful lyrics and beautiful delivery.
Petula [Sally] just turned 91 15 November 2023. What a tremendous life and career.
Another great analysis, Fil.
I love your detailed analysis, but I enjoy the joy on your face even more. It says everything that actually needs to be said for the lay person. Thanks for what you do!
Fil has the best smile. I know.
@@redwoods7370 He's a beautiful soul. 💞
@@tammy5926 Truly.
Thanks!
@@wingsofpegasus 😘
The Fil Smile of Approval. The highest award known to music !!!! There is no substitute for seeing your amazing smile when you do that voodoo that you do so WELLLLL !!!!!!!
🏆
This young dude knowledge about and enthusiasm for all kinds of music is wonderful. Full of great information and entertaining in equal measures. Well done and thank you for doing all these amazing videos Phil.
Petula looks absolutely stunning here and she remains so relaxed and connected to the song throughout this performance. One of my all time favorite performances from this era.
A great song and still holds up today. I met Petula Clark in 1970 London very sweet when I said hello.
She looks so hip and could be performing this today and look perfectly in style.
Petula Clark could really sing! My favorite female voice! Downtown, I remember when it played on the radio so much, it is the song that epitomizes that mid 60's era! Thanks Wings of Pegasus!
Petula, Cilla and Dusty just 3 outstanding British singers of the '60's. Thanks for explaining things so well.
Not Cilla. Awful.
One more comment about this splendid video. The reason “Downtown” is so good is that it takes a personal experience and makes it universal. It came from the first visit of the English composer Tony Hatch to New York in 1964. Hatch was caught up in the sensory overload of Times Square, whose noise, traffic, and lights, gave him his syncopated rhythm (“the LIGHTS are MUCH BRIGHT-er THERE”), making the pulse of the city into a kind of abstract tone poem.
But being an Englishman, Hatch didn’t know that Times Square was actually in Midtown (which would have been a terrible song title.)
But what’s great about the song is its freshness. Hatch's visit was in September and he was still working on the lyrics on Oct. 16 when Petula Clark recorded it. This is why the song is forever date-stamped to 1964. The line that tells us to “listen to the rhythm of the gentle bossa nova” refers to “The Girl from Ipanema,” the bossa nova song that was a colossal hit that summer.
A final footnote: that perky rhythm guitar in the original recording is played by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, then a much sought after studio musician.
Reichensperger Tony’s collaborator Jackie Trent also worked on the song.
Wow. So cool. Lots of great info.
Well said..wow that’s amazing detail.
Thank You So Much For Your Analysis Of Petula’s ‘Downtown’ Amazing Singer And Live Performer
An 80 Year Career In Show Business Should Stand Up As An Example As Such Greatness …
No Auto Tunes Or Correction Needed In This Performer Just Sheer Brilliance As An Artist ♥️
Petula Was 32 Years Of Age When She Recorded ‘Downtown’ And NOT 16!
Awesome - brings back so many memories of when I lived in London in 1964/65 when I was 8 - wow!!
Great artist selection Fil!
As a young boy I remember riding in the car and this song would come on the a m radio. Mom would grab the volume knob, crank up the volume and sing along with Petula. Thanks for bringing me back to 1967 with my Mom!
Phil, you’re so effective in explaining elements of a musical performance that a trained musician would take for granted in a way that is interesting but that an untrained ear would miss. Great job!
WOW he has ears! Well done!
Bam !
I remember when she hit the airways in the mid-60s in America, as an 11 year old boy I had such a crush on her. My favorite was Don't sleep in the subway darling.
Thanks for the Memories Fil.
Love "Don't sleep in the subway darling".
Was the same age......& think I also had a crush on her....
David Cantwell I was 6 when Downtown came out but I remember it like it was yesterday. My favorite is also Don’t sleep in the subway. Great song!
@@poetsdreamsatc
Yeah... I was referring to 1965 when she hit the top five here in the states with a song she cowrote You're the one.
Excellent
I love the buildup of tension that starts with "The lights are much brighter there . . ." Nobody writes songs like that anymore.
Petula was one of the great voices from that era along with Dusty Springfield and Lesley Gore. 👍👍
Great analysis! As somebody else said, your smile throughout the performance was also a great critique. I think everybody smiles when they hear and watch this video of “Downtown.“ It’s just such good music and puts one into a better mood than they were before the song started.
Very helpful analyses. So well explained. This was the hit that broke Petula through in the States and revived her career in Britain. After this, what a fabulous run she then had over three or so years with more Tony Hatch’s compositions! Until Adele, she was the best selling British singer in the USA - easy to see why when you listen to her “swinging” 60s style. Unbeatable.
Fil...I meant to tell you that it was this song that made me fall in love with my hubby 54 yrs ago! Our first date...at a concert..and when that song started playing I took his hand...maybe it sounds corny to some, but he never left my side after that! Six months later we married...and just celebrated our 54th anniversary! I played this at our 50th Anniversary Party...such memories! See Fil..music does bring lovers together! I may be 73, but I consider you my musical buddy!
Unparalleled, So glad I grew up with this amazing time for music.
She has so much joy in her voice
Fil you are such a Godsend. I listened to this music for 60 years and never understood the complexities of this music. i know I feel very lucky to have grown up in this era. The number of artists and their hits seems to go to infinity.
I think Fil is the best music critic to ever grace us. Honestly, who else has the stones to detail Aerosmith one day and Petula Clark the next? The dude is spot on every time too. I just found these and I've enjoyed every one.
One of my earliest musical memories is of Petula Clark singing this song. I can remember the words too. I remember listening to it on my little a.m. transistor radio and my earplug. Bobby Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" was another.
These are Master's level lectures at ten minutes each.
Thanks!
@@wingsofpegasus Well deserved.
I love that you do 'music history' and not just 'guitar technique'.
Yep I’m old and remember when she was a hit. Love your channel!
Petula put so much life into her singing. Thanks for the analysis and the reminder.
Petula was a superstar in her day! I loved her!
For Sure!
Big time...!!
Yes. I didn’t understand the other contributor’s, “underrated”, comment. I believe she was an international superstar.
I was 10 years old in 67 and this song was so memorable to me. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it on WLS, am Chicago. I always knew there was something special about it! Thanks for helping me to understand it Fil! When I hear it nowadays, it takes me back to a happy place in time during my youth. Best Wishes! 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Me too, I'm 56 and LOVE those innocent songs ....cheers
@@steveevans424 Me too my friend. Im 55... We're all the same. So wonderful to go back in time. It's pretty amazing. 💕😘💃
Same here PJ but I was 300 miles to the south picking it up on KXOK in Saint Louis. My local pool hall had a jukebox that played them all for a quarter or 3 plays for 50 cents.
P J I WAS 10 YEARS OLD IN 1967 AS WELL. MY DAD AND I LOVED THIS SONG.
I live in Oklahoma and listened to WLS at night. Was a great station back in the 60's.
Don't Sleep in the Subway is another great Tony Hatch song recorded by Pet Clark. Brilliant chords!
We learned early on that Petula Clark will always be "where all the lights are bright!" She is my favourite singer. She treats her fans like friends & always (unless she's got a flight to catch) takes time to meet & greet us @ the stage door. She is a lovely person, professional, artistically, & personally. I adore her. Thank you for such compelling & comprehensive musical information.
Hi Fil! I was 8 then, and I remember very well hearing her on my parents Hi-Fidelity stereo system on a beautiful, breezy, Saturday afternoon in the Summertime of Southern California...
Those were the happiest times of my life. Thank you.
Thank you for these great explanations, opening the mysteries of music to an ignoramus like me! When I was a kid, Petula Clark was very big in France, where I grew up. We loved her. We were feeling the effects of her talent without understanding how talented she is.
I was 10 when this came out. I can still sing along and feel good. Thanks Fil. PS I just looked Pet Clark up - she's 87 years old! Still with us.
Fil, really appreciating your growing comfort in bringing forward and discussing the technical details of these performances. Never shy away from losing us when you go down that path as you are striking the perfect balance.
Btw, this recording is one of those that just fitted and matched an AM radio back in the day for those of us who go back that far.
Neal Schier I have learned so much and have also learned how little I know about music.
Hahahaha I agree
You make me wish I would have studied music, as usual your analysis is amazing. Please don't stop. I'm learning and so interesting. 😙
What an excellent performance and composition to allow you to dig into some basic music theory for your audience, Fil. You made it engaging for both musicians and non- musicians alike. Well done!
Great analysis, Fil! When this song popped on the charts here in the USA, the 1st British Invasion was in overdrive and we devoured all things British. "Downtown" was quickly a bullseye hit, especially when expressed by a young woman whose vocal stylings seemed to sound, to us, so ... uh, British!
The atmosphere of this song is what always knocked me out. It evoked swinging London, Carnaby Street, colored lights and striking images in neon, guys in slim dark suits and girls in mini-skirts, chocolates and cinemas, exciting dance clubs and friendly little dives where one could take a real London cab through the sprinkling rain to find a cup of tea or coffee, or maybe a martini (shaken, not stirred)!
We didn't know much about what English nightlife could be until Petula sang to us about it. After "Downtown" it seemed she charted a new single here every six months!
This song is truly my first memory of a song!! i was a toddler, but i remember it perfectly, and it played all the time on our AM radio!!
Awe Fil... I asked for this. Love you man. 💕
My cousins gave me a paper grocery bag full of 45s when I was a kid, and Downtown was amongst those records. I listened to it over and over. Great song!
You picked a classic Fil to dissect and its pure bliss for you and us. Petula is a legend and unforgettable performer. Thanks for sharing mate
I knew and worked with one of her background vocalists Linda Lee Lawley. Linda continued to perform in clubs until 3 days before we lost her. We miss her.
I am so happy to see you analyzing all these 60s artists
Your video's are educational. I'm appreciate you taking on different things.
Again, it's 1967, I,m a 11 year old with an AM transistor radio glued to ear.
I could have heard this, back to back with "White Rabbit", "By the time I get to Phoenix, and "Magic Bus".
All between a commercial break!
She had such a clear voice. Whenever I see her I think of how she and Dean Martin were such good friends.
N.J. Qualls It’s funny that you should mention Dean because, as I’m sure you must know, this song is from one of Petula’s appearances on his show in 1967. When she finished this solo, she and Dean performed a medley of songs. They sang very well together.
Great analysis Fil. I remember Petula from my younger days. Downtown was a great tune for the 60's.
Oy! This was my favourite song of the year! I wore white gogo boots and felt so cool. And still love it. Thank you, Fil. How cool of you!👍😘
I had never heard of you or your group, but this is exquisite analysis.
Really made me appreciate it so much more.
Thank you for your love of music.
And I've listened to a couple of songs now, since I had not heard of you.
I'm a classically and jazz trained drummer, so I so appreciate bands with professional and skilled musicians.
Really enjoyed your songs.
Not my type of music, but I so love your talent.
Keep up the great work and thank you for your analysis.
Really wonderful.
You're on a roll here Fil , 60's female heart throbs
She was one of the many fabulous British female singers in the 1960's, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Mary Hopkin, Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Helen Shapiro, Billie Davis and others.
Pet Clark with dancing 007s. Groovy!
I love your expert analysis ...but even more your jolly smile and always so happy....
This was my sisters favorite song. I too enjoy watching how you like these old performances from fantastic musicians.
I’ve been truly blessed in my lifetime with such amazing music that fills the soundtrack of my life. This is one of those songs.
Great analysis Fil. As always. ❤️🤘🏼
I heard her sing this song at 11 and loved it. Still feels the same 55 years later.
You have a fantastic gift for explaining music. Especially for laymen (people) that just like what they hear. As interesting as the song itself is, this was a short course in music appreciation that elevated her performance a few octaves . Thank you:)
Thanks!
Petula is another favorite from the 1960s and thanks for your review Fil. I put some more of my favorite singers from the past below.
Thank you for sharing this. This is the first song I remember hearing on the radio. I had heard it before, because I recognized it. I was walking across the yard of Henry Cook (that had been his farmyard) in Lennox, SD USA. I was probably about 4 years old, and we were walking to downtown Lennox to the street carnival that was there. Three of my older sisters were walking with me, and one of them had a "transistor radio" that was playing this song.
Nice one Fil.. a sweet classic tune😇🎙
Down - Town... yes ! What a clear / sharp voice !
This is the first time that I've ever listened to the whole song !
Good stuff & great analysis Fil... keep rockin' 😆🤘
Requests are on the way 😉
This guy knows what he's talking about.
It’s interesting how so many people commenting can clearly remember where they were the first time they heard this song on the radio. I remember it too - I was 5 years old, in the car with my mother on a rainy day as she drove through Washington, DC. Memories like that are testament to a well composed, well arranged and produced, and well performed song. And your explanation in the video shows us why all those elements came together to make a classic, well-loved, and memorable song. Thanks!
It was the greatest music era ever. I miss the times when there were amazing singers and authentic musicians out there. The reality is today,s music doesn,t have anything memorable. Kids now have no idea what real music even was or is.
Great song mid 60s pre summer of love and the rock Era. The world would never be as innocent. Vietnam War, acid rock, anti establishment soon to come. Petula was great. Dione Warwick another great voice of that Era with the Burt Bacharach compositions.
Another group that comes to mind is The Association. Beautiful harmonies and lyrics, innocence now lost!
Oh wow Fil you really did dig deep for this one 1967 ... she was my mom's favourite... as always your analysis are great that we can all understand them.
That was such a good one Fil. Defenetly hearing that song with a new appreciation now. Thanks.
Omg I feel old. This is the year I was born!
I love your love of the classics. Thanks Fil!
You have such a big beautiful smile that immediately makes me smile. The enjoyment you receive from listening so intently to these great singers warms my heart so much
I loved this song as a little kid (6 in 67) and would sing it loud. Still love it and it always makes me smile and feel happy! Loved her!
Groovy!! Love hearing this again, it's from my childhood. I love how she pronounced every word so clearly, love her tone, love her dress, and her smile. Thanks for this!
I remember being a 12 yr boy with a major league on her! That song was HUGE! 7decades of performing, one of the best in the 60s.
I love this song. Whenever I hear it I go back to the place I first heard it, back when I was 4 years old, which was "downtown" Atchison, Kansas. I feel everything I did on that day and I still see everything as clearly now as I did then. It's a happy memory!
Thanks so much. I idolized her as a child. She is marvelous.
This was one of my favorite songs as a young child when we arrived in the US from Cuba in 1968. It was catchy and the lyrics were easy to sing for the non-English speaking. I thought it was such a happy and elegant escape to go Downtown!
I miss the days of songwriting like this. Pet is a treasure. 😊😍
When I was in 4th grade, I seriously thought this was the best song in the whole wide world. Thanks for the excellent analysis.
Hey Fil, Yes I’m that old...I was a sophomore in HS...I loved this song! Good ole Petula. Man I wish I could pick u up in a time machine and whisk u back to 1964 , Ed Sullivan and the Beatles came on...changed the world man. Elvis more my brothers music. I liked the black artist in Chicago Howlin Wolf, Chess records, and Memphis Tn. With Beal street boys like BB King....and of course Robert Johnson...I played cross roads...ok , ok I’ll shut-up. I could go on forever. I studied music classically for 12 years and believe it or not, I took the history of rock n roll in college...yeah! Rock on 🤘🏻 Fil...
Fil represents the best of what RUclips has to offer. He generously give us an opportunity to learn from his experience and invaluable expertise, all presented with professionalism and kindness. Just watching him enjoy the videos is enough to brighten my day. Petula Clark was one of my father's favorite singers and just hearing that song again brought back many of the happiest memories of my early childhood.
Thanks!
Hey Fil, Petula Clark had quite a history, starting young with critical acclaim. The sound of the 60's. One of my favorites. Be good, C.
As You know Fil! You do have one of the best comments section on RUclips a nice place to interact with other listeners/subscribers of your channel. it all start with a good Host.
You have a beautiful smile and way of being so polite and thoughtful in your comments. You are very gracious and every time I see your thumbnail posted and your smile my heart feels happy! God bless you!
totally love your description and breaking down of the way the song was put together, and all the things we take for granted, :) thank you
i was 17 and i did have a 45 of that song i lived in a small town with a couple of cafe's a few stores but we thought that song meant everyone's town including mine..... thanks for the memory ......
I REMEMBER HEARING THIS SONG IN THE MID 60S I MIGHT HAVE BEEN THREE OR FOUR . I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT OF OUR CAR THIS SONG WAS PLAYING ON THE RADIO. WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN PORT TOWNSEND WASHINGTON ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF SEATTLE. MY MOM WAS WEARING A PAIL GREEN RAINCOAT A SCARF ON HER HEAD. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD WEAR GLOVES BACK THEN. IT SEEMED LIKE THEY SHE WAS SINGING ABOUT PORT TOWNSEND . I ALWAYS LOVED PETULA S VOICE.
Great comment and a fine example of a Proustian Response ( look it up).
.
That is what made this song great since I was thinking the same thing about Port Townsend, except my Port Townsend was Denver. It struck a chord with everyone in their city.
Which reminds me of the first ultimate sell-out song, by Boston I think. They sang a song and said X city was the rock capitol, and each radio station couild insert the name of their city.
I am sure someone will correct me since I am not sure of which band and I am fuzzy on the song itself.
My Port Townsend was Cincinnati. You remember correctly that your mother wore a scarf and gloves. Women were expected to dress up in “church clothes” when going downtown. I was little, but I had to wear my scratchy crinoline slip, hat, and dress shoes for these special trips to town. A woman would not consider wearing pants/trousers to church, or downtown.
@@phillipecook3227 I looked it up. I enjoyed learning something new. Thanks for the compliment.
@@sjwillis1137 powerful eh?
Thanks for the free theory lesson! You are a great teacher!!
I was a kid back then. This song captures the magic that was a city's downtown. Woolworth lunch counters, old GM buses, winter coats that weren't designer, just warm wool, and lonely streets on Sundays because shops were closed. Malls can't do it.
This is one of the first songs I remember on the radio at abt 4yrs old~sitting in the back seat of my dad's yellow VW bug! ( carseat & seatbelt free, btw-😬) Can u imagine?
Allison Young I was 3 years old in your car sitting in the front seat in a car seat I brought myself
@@rickrick5041 🤣 I remember lying down in the back window space- just rolling off if Dad, (sometimes drinking!), braked too hard!! This explains alot abt my later behaviors!😉 The 70s~
@@susandenniscook9271 😄 I knew I couldn't be the only one ! They saved us from polio but risked our lives daily !😒😅We survived!
@@allisonyoung4007 You shouda had a car seat. They are half price on Black Friday or White Monday
@@rickrick5041 It was around 1967- not unusual-
Oh the sixties, Downtown, was one of my favorites, and I'm learning alot Fil, TY!
I was a sixteen year old kid working on a dairy farm in the middle of nowhere and every time this song came on the old am radio while I was mucking in the barn I can tell you it took me to a better place.Thanks again for the great memories and a great breakdown of what make these songs such classics.
Loved the dress, the color, the off set collar with the same white crystals that were on the dress and Petula looked beautiful in it.
As said by others here --- Excellent analysis!! I am 69 years old and remember hearing the 45 and always waiting for the three/four part harmony at the instrumental 'break' when the background ladies along with Ms. Clark sang 'Downtown' -- just loved the separation of the harmony. I noted that here during the performance, she sang the note at 1:27 and represented the harmony separation. Great to hear.
Again, a great analysis!! I am convinced that even if most people cannot speak technically as to what is happening musically, most can detect quality and hear when 'something is not right.'
I get a real kick out of the artists you choose . I love your smile as you listen. Great job . From NY
Thanks Fil! Love watching you getting into this. You know your stuff. 😉
Loved Petula Clark in the 60s.
Still do.
Your insight to these performances has helped me appreciate how much work is involved in each song. Thanks.
I saw Petula in the national tour of Sunset Boulevard back in the 90's and she still had her chops!
This is why your channel is the best. You break it down to such a point that anyone should be able to understand. Simply phenomenal work.
Thanks!
This was my favorite song when I was 4 years old. My dad worked 3rd shift and took care of me during the day while my mom worked. We used to ride the bus downtown to have lunch with my mom. When I hear this song, I am reminded of that time I spent with my dad. My dad passed away two years ago, so I'm happy to have this memory of him. Thanks Fil for another great reaction :).
I immediately thought of her when you featured Cilla Black yesterday. Good pick, Fil❣️
Love Petula....but Fil....he is an amazing talent also....best talent onyou tube find this year. Just watch his face and how he loves every note when Petula sings. He is as fun to watch as she is
Blown away by this live performance what a singer!!! How did they do microphones like that?