The Righteous Brothers, Unchained Melody | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 116^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 116^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Unchained Melody”, performed by 🎙 The Righteous Brothers.

“Whoa, my love, my darling / I’ve hungered for your touch / A long, lonely time…” 🎼 ✍ Alex North and Hy Zaret penned a classic song in 1955 with 🎵 “Unchained Melody”, a soundtrack cut 🤯! An oft-covered song (understatement), the most famous rendition of the song belongs to 🎙 The Righteous Brothers – originally a duo comprised of 🎙 Bill Medley (1940 – )  and the late 🎙 Bobby Hatfield (1940 – 2003). Notably, it is Hatfield that performed the lead on this song – a solo recording to be precise. “Unchained Melody,” which appeared on the duo’s 1965 album, 💿 Just Once In My Life, was one of six top-10 hits for the duo, peaking at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Also, interestingly, a re-recorded version also performed well on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990, peaking at no. 19.  Of course, it is the original that is the ace-in-the hole for The Righteous Brothers – well, Hatfield.

The melody of “Unchained Melody” is to die for – splendid! It is easy on the ears and tuneful, brought to life by Hatfield’s expressive, nuanced performance.  The two verses truly shine, with the conclusion of the second verse shining brightest historically.  Intensifying lyrics that also appeared at the end of the first verse, Hatfield tweaks the melody, showing off his impressive range, and setting the tone for how “Unchained Melody” was to be performed for eternity: “I need your love / I, I need your love / Godspeed your love to me.” Besides the famous artistic liberty, the bridge section marks another brilliant part of this beloved classic.  Form-wise, it does what a bridge is expected to – separate itself from the other sections of the song, in this case, the verses.  Harmonically and melodically, it is a contrast, one that Hatfield executes flawlessly: “Lonely rivers flow / To the sea, to the sea / To the open arms of the sea, yeah.” We could analyze and analyze 🎵 “Unchained Melody” but honestly, the music speaks for itself on this easy listening, pop gem.

🎙 The Righteous Brothers • 💿 Just Once In My Life • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1965

The Righteous Brothers, Unchained Melody: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 116 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]