Sly & The Family Stone, “Que Sera, Sera” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 29^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” by Sly & The Family Stone. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 29^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”, performed by 🎙 Sly & The Family Stone. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

Ah, there’s nothing like a psychedelic soul rendition of a beloved 1950s classic.  🎼✍ Jay Livingston and 🎼✍ Ray Evans wrote an iconic song in 🎵 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”.  🎙 Doris Day would record the definitive version of the song.  That said, “Que Sera, Sera” is an oft-covered joint so, there’s plenty of room for one of the best funk/soul bands of all time to drop their own take.  🎙 Sly & The Family Stone certainly transform the 50s version of the tune into something soul lovers can hang with on their 1973 album, 💿 Fresh.

Sly & The Family Stone slacken the tempo and add soul-ify this classic, period.  In the band’s hands, this is a nearly five-and-a-half-minute ballad.  They milk it and the results are nothing short of glorious. We get some awesome keyboard (including organ), making it idiomatic of the 70s. 🎙 Larry Graham does what he does best – hold down that bass!  Graham is a great vocalist too (🎵 “One in a Million You”, HELLO), but his bass playing was innovative. Of course, the main attraction are the vocals by 🎙 Rose Stone and Sly.  Rose’s tone is perfectly suited for the three tender verses, while the record intensifies in the chorus: “Que Sera, Sera / Whatever will be, will be / The future’s not ours to see / Que Sera, Que Sera, Que Sera.” Here, Sly sounds incredibly gritty.

Final Thoughts 💭 

Perhaps purists who heart the Doris Day version will cry foul about this take. Personally, I consider it one of Sly & The Family Stone’s BEST songs. Sure, they have bigger, more important hits in their catalog but 🎵 “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” is special too!

🎙 Sly & The Family Stone • 💿 Fresh • 🏷 Sony • 🗓 1973

Sly & The Family Stone, “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 29 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Sony]