(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
Bobby Lewis - "Tossin' And Turnin'"
Hit Number 1: July 10, 1961
Stay at Number 1: 7 Weeks
The song of the year in 1961 was an upbeat, fun song about not being able to sleep at night, because of thinking about a girl you have or had feelings for. I'm not sure if the narrator of the song is supposed to be a guy who is currently in a relationship and can't sleep because of the excitement of being in one with this girl, or if he can't sleep because they broke up, and he's having a hard time dealing with it. Either way, the song is a lot of fun, and it's not what you might imagine if you were to just look at the lyrics. On paper, the song looks like it would be sad, and is likely about how he broke up with someone, and can't deal with it. But the song is so upbeat and energetic, that I have to think that it could be a guy who is in fact in one, but is too excited about it to sleep.
In most versions that you find of the song, it starts out immediately with Lewis singing "I couldn't sleep at all last night", before launching right into the song. But in the slightly longer version, and this is the version I have for you in the video above, it starts out slow and Lewis sings "Baby, baby, you did something to me", before it takes off into the fast and fun song about being an insomniac. Today, Lewis usually sings this prelude when he performs the song live. It isn't real hard to see why so many people loved this song. I think it's one that lots of people could maybe relate to. We all have those nights where we have some boy or girl on our minds, and for whatever reason, our brains just can't stop thinking about them, and it really screws up our sleep. That, and because the song is so damn fun. In the middle of the song it breaks into a crazy saxophone solo, almost making the song a bit humorous in a way. The song has a bridge where the guy even gets up in the middle of the night, and gets a snack from the kitchen. (We've all been there too) He's up for so long he even hears the milkman at the door. (You know the song is old when there's a milkman in it) It truly is the anthem for those of us who can't sleep because our brain won't allow us too, and for anyone who suffers from insomnia. Not a bad anthem to have.
"Tossin' And Turnin'" is also in some pretty unique company as far as success goes. It stayed at #1 for seven weeks, and was one of only six songs to spend at least seven weeks at the top spot in the 1960s. The other five were previous entry Percy Faith's "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'", and future entries including The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Hey Jude", The Monkees' "I'm a Believer", and Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". That's pretty outstanding company! It also made an appearance in the movie "Animal House", which of course, has a great soundtrack. (If you haven't seen "Animal House" do yourself a favor and watch it ASAP) 1961 definitely could've done much worse for a top song of the year.
GRADE: 8/10
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