What Have They Done to My Song Ma

Melanie

About What Have They Done to My Song Ma

"What Have They Done to My Song Ma" is a song by Melanie. It was released in 1970 as the B-side of her "Ruby Tuesday" single and included on the album Candles in the Rain. The single reached the number nine on the UK singles charts for three weeks. Other artists have recorded the song as "Look What They've Done To My Song Ma", after the song's first line, and this title is used on the Music page at Melanie's own website.

Year:: 2001
: 4:03
: 57 Views
Playlists:: #1

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Melanie

Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark". Borne in its Latin form by two saints: Melania the Elder and her grand-daughter Melania the Younger, the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form Melanie. However the name only became common in English usage in the 1930s due to the popularity of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 filmation, as one of the novel's main characters was named Melanie Hamilton. The name's popularity increased until the 1970s since remaining constant. Melanie was the 80th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2007 and - as Mélanie - was the 86th most popular name for girls born in Fr… more »

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13 facts about this song

Artist "What Have They Done to My Song Ma" is a track by American singer-songwriter Melanie Safka, who is better known by her stage name Melanie.
Release Date The song was first released in 1970 as a part of Melanie's album, "Candles in the Rain".
Chart Performance Although it wasn't among her most popular songs in the United States, "What Have They Done to My Song Ma" reached the top 40 in the UK, peaking at number 39.
Cover Versions The song was covered by many artists in different languages, including famous French singer Dalida who named it "Mais il y a des soirs".
Ray Charles Version The song earned a new level of prominence when it was covered by legendary artist Ray Charles, who liked Melanie's original so much he decided to do his own interpretation.
Miley Cyrus Version In more recent years, former Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus covered "What Have They Done to My Song Ma" during her Backyard Sessions series in 2012, which were released on YouTube.
Meaning Lyrically, the song delves into Melanie's frustration over how her music has been treated or changed by the music industry, which is a common sentiment among artists who feel their art gets lost in commercialization.
Title Variation Interestingly, the song is sometimes known by an abbreviation of its title, simply referred to as "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma".
Inclusion in Films The song has made appearances in movies over the years, the most notable being its inclusion in the film "The Edge of Seventeen."
Live Performances Melanie often includes this song in her live performances, making it one of the mainstays of her repertoire.
Back-up Vocals Melanie's version of the song features the Edwin Hawkins Singers on backing vocals.
Pop Culture It was also featured on the TV show "Gilmore Girls" in the 2002 episode titled "I Can't Get Started".
Toys Cover The catchy tune was also transformed into a pop version by The Toys, a girl group from the 1960s. Their version was titled "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma- / I Got My Heart Set on You."

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"What Have They Done to My Song Ma Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4537836/Melanie/What+Have+They+Done+to+My+Song+Ma>.

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