Bobby Gentry is an American singer-songwriter who was one of the first female artists to compose & produce her own material. A lot of her songs were stories. Her biggest hit was in 1967 with "Ode To Billy Joe". Other hits she wrote & recorded were "Mississippi Delta" & "Fancy". She also had hits with "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Sunday Mornin" (with Glen Campbell) etc.
I'm a southern man from Kentucky and I'm here to declare that this song hits hard and tells a lot about how hard scrabble and complicated southern people are. Were not silly like The Beverly Hillbillies!😉😉
I did check and Bobby Gentry is still alive and was born in 1942 and is 82 years old. She retired from singing in 1982 and not performed, recorded or interviewed since then. Ode to Billie Joe is her most famous hit.
Beautiful song telling 2 different stories at once.....intertwined over the melody.......casual dinner conversation about Billy Joe......all time great......
best rock songs of the 50s - when it all started - Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ - Chuck Berry, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’- Elvis Presley, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ - Buddy Holly, ‘Peggy Sue’ - Little Richard, ‘Tutti Frutti’ - Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Great Balls of Fire’ - Elvis Presley, ‘Hound Dog’ - Chuck Berry, ‘Johnny B Goode’ - Big Mama Thornton, ‘Hound Dog’ - Little Richard, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ - Little Richard, ‘Long Tall Sally’ - i will stop here - i think you would really like most if not all of them - live are the best - love your reaction as Allways
You asked the right questions. What DID they throw off the Tallahatchie Bridge? In the movie, it was a ragdoll, representing the end of her childhood, but Bobby Gentry never said.
The film also had a reason why he jumped off the bridge which was nothing to do with the doll. I won't spoil it just in case you want to watch the film. The film btw was produced by Max Baer JR whose most famous acting role was as Jethro in The Beverly Hillbillies and was the son of World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Max Baer.
Shes a good singer i like the instruments in this song,well written, They use two first names in the south of the usa in there first names alot, idont know either what happened, and I've hered this song over the years,love your reaction & that top looks very sharp with your buitiful hair,take care,& have a nice day buitiful biss you're very high quality ❤😊
Not only is her voice timeless, the song itself is! There has been speculation for over 50yrs about what they threw off that bridge. They made a movie and had their own interpretation of what it was. But no one knows for sure. The best part about this song was the casualness of it. It’s just a nice family sitting around having dinner talking about it. Like it wasn’t a big deal.
You silly girl. Biss. Lol, good reaction😊It's a great song, nice pick, and keep your sense of humor. No apology needed. And the voice is classic southern like Mississippi. The names of the places are native American. Try Bobby G's duo with Glenn Campbell, Morning Glory.👍
I first saw this on BBC TV when I was a child. I was mesmerised. Even then, I assumed they threw something so awful off the bridge, Billy Joe couldn't live with it, and jumped off. Then she had to carry on, alone. Only the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" and "She's Leaving Home" had similar effects. Some people claim "Fancy" was partly inspired by her own life. Worth reacting. Best Wishes. ☮
That's a good one, isn't it? She could tell a great story. Biss, you might also enjoy her singing Louisiana Man, Mornin' Glory, Sermon, Courtyard, and Tobacco Road. Thanks for sharing this one!
Bobby Gentry has never said what was thrown off the bridge, and that is missing the point of the song. Some speculate it was a baby, but that doesn’t seem plausible; it would be hard to hide a pregnancy and birth. I would guess it may have been a wedding bouquet, and she and Billy Joe were secretly married.
Here's a lot of deliberate mystery about what Billie and his gf threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. I always envisioned as possibly their child from an unwanted pregnancy which would have been a big scandal in the Deep South at the time or it might have been his draft card since the Vietnam War was going on at the time and signifying Bobby and his gf were against the war. The song is replete with the time period and the atmosphere of rural Mississippi USA with such specific descriptions without ever explaining why Billie Joe jumped off the bridge either. Brilliant lyrics Great reaction Bisc ❤☝️
The movie takes the bare bones of the song and takes it to some surprising places. Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor were a major teenage acting team in the 70s.
Dear Ms biscuit the song is about a true time in her life the boy who was the father of her baby what they do off what was going off the bridge by her and Billy Joel was the baby
Its Billy Joe, Baby. The theme of the song is theyre talking bout Billy Joe in passing when they didnt know he was her lover. Theres alot of introspection on this song. Which was her purpose as she was a little before her time. Like you. Id still love to see you dance. ❤✌️
Time to dip your toes into the Funk genre. Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce. Be forewarned: Don't even worry about bringing your chair onto the set. You'll be standing and dancing
Billy Joe is NOT Billy Joel the singer. There is a lot of speculation about what they threw off the bridge. My guess is Billy Joe asked her to marry him and she said No and he threw the ring.
A full length movie was made from the story of this song Bobby Gentry has another well received song that she wrote called Fancy. She recorded it but it didn't do much until country music legend Reba McEntire recorded it a few years back. Try it Fancy sung by Reba McEntire.
She sang "Fancy' she wrote it and Reba did a cover of it. She was a psch grad the song was about how people are indifferent that Billy Joe . People focus on what she threw.
The name didn't sound familiar but I've definitely heard the song before, and it is an engaging one. Really enjoyed your reaction. Hope you are having a good day Bisscurious.
This lady was also a SWIMSUIT Model! She had an incredible figure, with really good looks, but most of all a very smart young lady, who walked away from the spot light, rather then SELL OUT to Corporate! She has rarely been seen for over 40 years!!
Biscuit they never said the baby was dead or stillborn when it was thrown off the bridge but her and Billy Joel were not married they were just young kids and it's Billy Joel couldn't take the fact that losing his baby and what he had done and he couldn't live with it to himself went and jumped off the same bridge and she was left alone to take on the pain of both losing her baby and losing the love of her life which was Billy Joel the father of her baby initiative event that supposedly it actually took place
Bisscute, main point: girl is 15-17 & her 'secret, kept from family' boyfriend commits suicide & she founds it out when her mother & dad are dissing him at dinner. She is devisated by the info, but not allowed to tell her secret at dinner... In last part of song, she is still in shock & love of dead guy
I know of this song, but I don't really know of Bobby Gentry very much. If I'm being honest, that era of country music isn't really my strongest point of music knowledge, but she gives me kind of a Loretta Lynn vibe. Loretta Lynn was a legendary Country artist from roughly around the same time, so maybe you'd like her too. One of her most famous songs was "Coal Miner's Daughter", and they made a movie about her life in the 80s with the same name. ruclips.net/video/f9eHp7JJgq8/видео.htmlsi=7RTU3yNof9W8Kpm-
I’ve seen you react to Sinead O’ Connor, she did a cover of this for the 1995 War Child album called Help and as good as the original is, that cover is so powerful. You should listen.
The story I got back in the day when this song came out, was she was throwing her engagement ring off the bridge because she found out Billy Joe had a homosexual affair.
Everyone is allowed a Bisstake from time to time. 😊 Have a great day, Biss and all that read this.
"Smart, beauty, brains, talent, artsy, elegant," I thought you were going to say you two have a lot in common.
Bobby Gentry is an American singer-songwriter who was one of the first female artists to compose & produce her own material. A lot of her songs were stories. Her biggest hit was in 1967 with "Ode To Billy Joe". Other hits she wrote & recorded were "Mississippi Delta" & "Fancy". She also had hits with "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", "Sunday Mornin" (with Glen Campbell) etc.
If you have reacted to Reba McEntire "Fancy" it's a cover of the Bobby Gentry original.
We made lots of jokes about this song when it came out. This song isn't about BILLY JOEL. But about a fictitious person named Billy-JOE
Billy Joel had yet not released a record when this song came out. It’s about the singer of Green Day.
The movie by the same title adds to the mystery of the song and is well worth watching.
Love the strings arrangement behind the vocals and guitar too.
I'm a southern man from Kentucky and I'm here to declare that this song hits hard and tells a lot about how hard scrabble and complicated southern people are. Were not silly like The Beverly Hillbillies!😉😉
I did check and Bobby Gentry is still alive and was born in 1942 and is 82 years old. She retired from singing in 1982 and not performed, recorded or interviewed since then. Ode to Billie Joe is her most famous hit.
Beautiful song telling 2 different stories at once.....intertwined over the melody.......casual dinner conversation about Billy Joe......all time great......
Good morning Bisscutie! Classic old tune. This song reminds me of growing up in rural Alabama: the good, the bad, and the disturbing.
I almost started typing to correct you. I am glad that you found out eventually.
If I saw the movie it was in the 70's during my childhood, boy the 70's were great for being a child, and the 80's were EXCELLENT FOR BEING A TEENAGER
Same, we had it made!
best rock songs of the 50s - when it all started - Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ - Chuck Berry, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’- Elvis Presley, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ - Buddy Holly, ‘Peggy Sue’ - Little Richard, ‘Tutti Frutti’ - Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Great Balls of Fire’ - Elvis Presley, ‘Hound Dog’ - Chuck Berry, ‘Johnny B Goode’ - Big Mama Thornton, ‘Hound Dog’ - Little Richard, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ - Little Richard, ‘Long Tall Sally’ - i will stop here - i think you would really like most if not all of them - live are the best - love your reaction as Allways
Such a great performance.
You asked the right questions. What DID they throw off the Tallahatchie Bridge? In the movie, it was a ragdoll, representing the end of her childhood, but Bobby Gentry never said.
The film also had a reason why he jumped off the bridge which was nothing to do with the doll. I won't spoil it just in case you want to watch the film. The film btw was produced by Max Baer JR whose most famous acting role was as Jethro in The Beverly Hillbillies and was the son of World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Max Baer.
It is my understanding that she has commented that "what" was thrown off the bridge is not relevant to the song's message.
@@willlong8942 You are correct. It's about her family's reaction to the news.
Bobby Gentry so much style in her voice and so attractive!
Shes a good singer i like the instruments in this song,well written, They use two first names in the south of the usa in there first names alot, idont know either what happened, and I've hered this song over the years,love your reaction & that top looks very sharp with your buitiful hair,take care,& have a nice day buitiful biss you're very high quality ❤😊
Ha! A "Bisstake"!
I was 11 years old and I loved this song.
"Biscurious" love the new word.
thanks for reaction
Beautiful and with excellent content as always
Not only is her voice timeless, the song itself is! There has been speculation for over 50yrs about what they threw off that bridge. They made a movie and had their own interpretation of what it was. But no one knows for sure. The best part about this song was the casualness of it. It’s just a nice family sitting around having dinner talking about it. Like it wasn’t a big deal.
You silly girl. Biss. Lol, good reaction😊It's a great song, nice pick, and keep your sense of humor. No apology needed. And the voice is classic southern like Mississippi. The names of the places are native American. Try Bobby G's duo with Glenn Campbell, Morning Glory.👍
Gotta watch the movie Bisscute! Happy that you are authentic and don't edit your reaction. Much respect 😊❤.
I'm here for the Bisstakes as well! Great reaction to a classic song! Thanks Biss!❤️💛
I first saw this on BBC TV when I was a child. I was mesmerised. Even then, I assumed they threw something so awful off the bridge, Billy Joe couldn't live with it, and jumped off. Then she had to carry on, alone. Only the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" and "She's Leaving Home" had similar effects. Some people claim "Fancy" was partly inspired by her own life. Worth reacting.
Best Wishes. ☮
That's a good one, isn't it? She could tell a great story. Biss, you might also enjoy her singing Louisiana Man, Mornin' Glory, Sermon, Courtyard, and Tobacco Road. Thanks for sharing this one!
Great reaction Biss the song has a nice story behind it😊keep up the good 👍
Bobby Gentry has never said what was thrown off the bridge, and that is missing the point of the song. Some speculate it was a baby, but that doesn’t seem plausible; it would be hard to hide a pregnancy and birth. I would guess it may have been a wedding bouquet, and she and Billy Joe were secretly married.
I've driven over that bridge.
Ok Biscurious, "Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy, _ROCKS!_ Check it.
Hi. I really enjoyed this reaction. Can't wait to see your next video.
It's a COUNTRY/ RURAL STORY about BILLY JOE McCallister
Love this song from a long time ago when I was just a kid
Here's a lot of deliberate mystery about what Billie and his gf threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. I always envisioned as possibly their child from an unwanted pregnancy which would have been a big scandal in the Deep South at the time or it might have been his draft card since the Vietnam War was going on at the time and signifying Bobby and his gf were against the war. The song is replete with the time period and the atmosphere of rural Mississippi USA with such specific descriptions without ever explaining why Billie Joe jumped off the bridge either. Brilliant lyrics
Great reaction Bisc ❤☝️
The movie takes the bare bones of the song and takes it to some surprising places. Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor were a major teenage acting team in the 70s.
Dear Ms biscuit the song is about a true time in her life the boy who was the father of her baby what they do off what was going off the bridge by her and Billy Joel was the baby
No
Its Billy Joe, Baby. The theme of the song is theyre talking bout Billy Joe in passing when they didnt know he was her lover. Theres alot of introspection on this song. Which was her purpose as she was a little before her time. Like you. Id still love to see you dance. ❤✌️
Enjoyed your reaction. 😊😊❤❤
Biss, if you liked this, listen to Johnny Rivers doing "Memphis" at the Whiskey A-Go-Go, 1964.
Time to dip your toes into the Funk genre.
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce.
Be forewarned: Don't even worry about bringing your chair onto the set. You'll be standing and dancing
Billy Joe is NOT Billy Joel the singer. There is a lot of speculation about what they threw off the bridge. My guess is Billy Joe asked her to marry him and she said No and he threw the ring.
I saw her Las Vegas show in 1978, I was 18.
I think the movie is called "ODE TO BILLY JOE"
The movie had Billy Joe and the girl ( Bobby I guess ) throwing flowers into the river before Billy Joe jumped in cuz he was gay.
Here's a good singer and song. Sohyang singing, Bridge over troubled water.
Yes, the question that haunts is what did her and Billy Joe throw off of the bridge that day? Thank you.
It's ok to make a Bisstake.
A full length movie was made from the story of this song Bobby Gentry has another well received song that she wrote called Fancy. She recorded it but it didn't do much until country music legend Reba McEntire recorded it a few years back. Try it Fancy sung by Reba McEntire.
Apple updated my phone and I think Apple hates me! It took me 30 minutes to make it work again! But, I love this song!
I would recommend starting at the beginning of Rock and Roll for me: The Iron Butterfly, Inagadavita, new world of music for me with that one song.
Her version "Son of a Preacher Man" is worth a listen. The Dusty Springfield version is similar. I think Dusty did the song originally.
Хорошо нам спела девушка с гитарой 🎸! Рады все на свете музыке 🎼 приятной!❤
(Big smile) if that is the worst thing that happens to you today, it's been a great day!!
She sang "Fancy' she wrote it and Reba did a cover of it. She was a psch grad the song was about how people are indifferent that Billy Joe . People focus on what she threw.
This should be good! Here we go Bisscute! 🎉
There’s a movie that was made based on this song. A very strange movie.
she threw his eyeglasses off the bridge
You look like her!!! 😊
Once you’ve solved the mystery of this song, try the one of “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard.”
The name didn't sound familiar but I've definitely heard the song before, and it is an engaging one. Really enjoyed your reaction.
Hope you are having a good day Bisscurious.
This lady was also a SWIMSUIT Model! She had an incredible figure, with really good looks, but most of all a very smart young lady, who walked away from the spot light, rather then SELL OUT to Corporate! She has rarely been seen for over 40 years!!
3:27 ♥️
Not BILLY JOEL, it's BILLY JOE, LOL 😂😊😊😊
This came out in 67, I was 17 and it bothered me for a while because I wanted an explanation, no internet back then.
😆
Love it bisscute
I kind of don’t want to watch because I don’t want her to be embarrassed. Before I dive in, please tell me she figured it out. Bless you, Bisscute.
The book is very good reading.
Biscuit they never said the baby was dead or stillborn when it was thrown off the bridge but her and Billy Joel were not married they were just young kids and it's Billy Joel couldn't take the fact that losing his baby and what he had done and he couldn't live with it to himself went and jumped off the same bridge and she was left alone to take on the pain of both losing her baby and losing the love of her life which was Billy Joel the father of her baby initiative event that supposedly it actually took place
We don't know what was thrown off the bridge...and this song is fiction.
Bisscute, main point: girl is 15-17 & her 'secret, kept from family' boyfriend commits suicide & she founds it out when her mother & dad are dissing him at dinner. She is devisated by the info, but not allowed to tell her secret at dinner... In last part of song, she is still in shock & love of dead guy
Speculation at the time was that they threw off either a baby or an aborted fetus. It meant her family was not aware she was pregnant.
Very good one!
I think the main point of the song is the apathy of the family to the news of Billy Joe's death. They keep eating supper like it's no big deal.
I know of this song, but I don't really know of Bobby Gentry very much. If I'm being honest, that era of country music isn't really my strongest point of music knowledge, but she gives me kind of a Loretta Lynn vibe. Loretta Lynn was a legendary Country artist from roughly around the same time, so maybe you'd like her too. One of her most famous songs was "Coal Miner's Daughter", and they made a movie about her life in the 80s with the same name.
ruclips.net/video/f9eHp7JJgq8/видео.htmlsi=7RTU3yNof9W8Kpm-
A Bisstake was made. 😂
Hi,hello.besscute how are you?god bless.
I’ve seen you react to Sinead O’ Connor, she did a cover of this for the 1995 War Child album called Help and as good as the original is, that cover is so powerful. You should listen.
I guess to understand this song you would have to know something about the rural life in the U.S. South in the 50's and 60's.
❤❤❤❤❤
Go for Elvis - Trying to get to you.. from 68.or the "Big Hunk O Love" - remix version.
Little Bisstake. That Billy is Not the singer but it's ok. Great reaction as Usual Miss Bisscute thanks for this one👍👍👍
That's okay. Don't sweat it. We all make mistakes. No big deal.
Deer biscuit it's not about Billy Joel The Piano Player it's about Billy Joel a person that she grew up with it was a friend or boyfriend of hers
As far as I know Bobby Gentry was a 1 hit wonder
Gentry charted 11 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
I have a reaction I would like to see you do. K D Lang sings Hallelujah at the 2005 Juno Awards.
Bisstake....you're adorable.
I would like to see you react to Elvis Presley song, Angel.
You are fine I like the way you talk, great song to.
You should listen to the song Harper valley PTA it's not from Bobby Gentry but I think you'll like it
Fancy.
Try her song "Fancy".
Lol. Adorable mistake at the beginning.
"Billy Joe" is name more common in the American south.
Hi Bisscute
The story I got back in the day when this song came out, was she was throwing her engagement ring off the bridge because she found out Billy Joe had a homosexual affair.
Not Billy Joel. Billy Joe McAllister (Ode To Billy Joe (1976) is a movie featuring the song w/ the same title). fyi.
Ode to billy Joel you made a Bisstake HaHaHa
You are Wright she is very beautiful,she is in your category Madalina 😍
Right
I think you're confused, it's Billy Joe McAlister & not Billy Joel. 😉