The Six Teens

Sweet

About The Six Teens

"The Six Teens" (often spelled as "The Sixteens") is a 1974 song by British glam rock band Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, appearing on Sweet's album Desolation Boulevard. The song was Sweet's first single simply as "Sweet" (previously, the band was known as The Sweet). The song references six teenagers growing up in the revolutionary rhetoric of the 1960s. The song was the penultimate single written by Chinn and Chapman for the band and the last on which long-time producer Phil Wainman assisted. The song features softer acoustic verses contrasted with heavier electric guitar-based choruses and was regarded something of a significant departure from the band's glam rock sound heard on previous singles. Guitarist Andy Scott, when introducing the song in his current band's live show, often states he regards it as Chinn and Chapman's best work. The single reached the top 10 in several European countries, and was the band's 10th #1 in Denmark. The B-side is the band composition "Burn on the Flame". 


Year:
1999
4:16
38 
#2

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Where were you in sixty-eight
In sixty-eight Julie was Johnnie's date
Two kids growin' together
Livin' each day as if time was slippin' away
Oh, they were just sixteen
And their love a teenage dream
They passed the time, they crossed the line
The line that ran between
Julie and Johnnie now you've made it

But life goes on, you know it ain't easy
You've just gotta be strong
If you're one of the sixteens
And life goes on, you know, you know it ain't easy
You know you'll never go wrong
'Cause you're all part of the sixteens

Suzie and Davey got to make the big time
Maybe they can put it all together
In a show that lasts forever
Oh they would walk the strip at nights
And dream they saw their name in lights
On Desolation boulevard
They'll light the faded light
Suzie and Davey you can make it

But life goes on, you know it ain't easy
You've just gotta be strong
If you're one of the sixteens
And life goes on, you know, you know it ain't easy
You know you'll never go wrong
'Cause you're all part of the sixteens

So where were you in sixty-eight
When Bobby and Billy thought
That sixty eight was out of date
They took the flowers from their hair
And tried to make us all aware
Too bad, too late
So they lived from day to day
And tried to do it all their way
But sixty-eight was sixty-eight
No matter what they say
Bobby and Billy maybe you'll make it one day.

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Sweet

Sweet (also referred to as The Sweet) were a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as a prominent glam rock act, with their most prolific line-up: lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. more »

4 fans

Written by: MICHAEL DONALD CHAPMAN, NICHOLAS BARRY CHINN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"The Six Teens" is often categorized as a mixture of Glam Rock and Hard Rock.
Album Appearance
The song appears on the album "Desolation Boulevard," which was Sweet's third studio album released in 1974.
Song's Topic
The song is really a narrative that charts the lives of six British teenagers from birth to young adulthood.
Single Release
"The Six Teens" was released as a single in the UK in 1974 and reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.
Songwriters
The track was co-written by all four band members, Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker.
Producer
Phil Wainman was the producer of the song and he also produced a majority of the band's biggest hits.
Grammy Recognition
Despite not receiving any Grammy Awards, the song was highly influential in shaping the Glam Rock genre.
Music Video
Unlike most songs at the time, "The Six Teens" had a promotional film that was directed by Mike Mansfield.
Structural Oddity
Unusual for a pop song, it does not follow the standard verse-chorus-verse structure and instead has a narrative form.
International Success
The song also enjoyed some international success, particularly in Europe reaching the top 10 in Norway and Belgium.
Emotional Content
Contrary to many other glam rock songs of that era, "The Six Teens" is considered to be relatively melancholic in tone.
Popularity in U.S
Unlike some of Sweet's other hits, "The Six Teens" did not manage to crack the Billboard Top 100 in the United States.
Legacy
Decades later, the song remains a fan favourite and continues to be performed in various covers and tribute performances.
Album Cover Art
Interestingly, the album "Desolation Boulevard" features the iconic image of a wrecked car on the cover, symbolising the desolation hinted at in the title.
Beat Structure
A prominent feature of "The Six Teens" is its mid-tempo beat which gives it a unique sound in comparison to some of Sweet's other tracks.

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