(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 down below)
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"
Hit Number 1: August 14, 1965
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
Before there was just Cher, there was Sonny & Cher. The two were a boyfriend and girlfriend who, for a brief time in the 60s, were one of the more successful singing duos around. One of the songs from their debut album "Look At Us" became an international hit, not only hitting #1 in America, but doing so in Canada and England as well. Of course of the duo, Cher is the one most people know. Her music career sparked with her then-boyfriend Sonny Bono, and after they were married, she would achieve enormous popularity with a solo career in the early 70s. However, she was the reason why her and Sonny's #1 hit, "I Got You Babe", could've never happened.
Sonny had written "I Got You Babe" in the basement of his and Cher's house late one night. But when he woke up Cher to sing the lyrics, she hated the song. She thought it didn't have a chance of being a hit, and went back to bed. But apparently somewhere along the line, she was convinced to at least give it a shot, and the rest was history. It wasn't Cher's proudest moment, as "I Got You Babe", the song she thought had no chance of going anywhere, became the duo's signature song. Some even tab it as one of the best duet singles of all time.
It is pretty easy to tell that Cher is a much better singer than Sonny, but to me, this song isn't supposed to be some sappy, corny love ballad between a man and a woman, where you'd want two amazing singers. Instead, it's pretty simplified. You've got Sonny and Cher singing about how even though they've got their problems, and are sometimes criticized by society's standards, they always know they've got each other. The song has a prominent oboe being played in the chorus, and it acts as a cute little cherry on top of the song. I for one, am not too blown away by the song, and it is a little bit overshadowed by a lot of the bangers being released by the British Invasion artists around this time. But I do have respect for the craftsmanship that was put into it. I like how free and easy the song is. Not to mention, Sonny and Cher's voices do blend together pretty well.
I guess the magic on "I Got You Babe" wasn't enough for the duo though, as even though the two were married in 1969, they would divorce in 1975. Sonny didn't do much of any singing and recording after they were married, and it was Cher who took off running with a solo career. (She'll appear in this blog a few more times by herself) Sonny did do some live shows with Cher after they divorced, though it was very seldom that he would. He got into politics, becoming the mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988 to 1992, and would eventually be one of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives for 3 years before dying in a skiing accident in Nevada at the age of 62. Nevertheless, "I Got You Babe" lives on.
GRADE: 7/10
JUST MISSED:
Gary Lewis & the Playboys' (the ones who brought us "This Diamond Ring") were kept off the #1 spot again, with their song "Save Your Heart for Me" peaking at #2 behind "I Got You Babe". It's a 6.
10 ALERT!!!:
The Righteous Brothers' rich and ultimately beautiful "Unchained Melody" peaked at #4 behind "I Got You Babe". Of course, it's a freaking 10. It doesn't get more obvious than that.
MY INSPIRATION / MORE INFORMATION:
SONG REFERENCED:
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