The song "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival: creation history, lyrical meaning, Tina Turner cover, success
Classic RockThe classic rock, which emerged in the 1960s, has had an incredible influence on the formation of other genres. You could say that many of the genres that have become mainstream came from rock classics. Rock music is beautiful first of all because its versatility allows you to "play" with musical instruments in your own way, creating unique riffs and melodies. Because of this, it's impossible to count the subgenres of rock! This article is about one of the progenitor bands of classic rock, which stood out for their interesting lyrics and innovative music.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - some of the greatest artists of their time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the best bands, and the richest legacy. These are the "guys from the South" who have been setting the trends in rock music for more than 10 years. Read more about their hit "Proud Mary.".
"Proud Mary," which instantly became a classic of the genre
In 1968, CCR records their second studio albumThey did not want to stay in the role of "one-hit artists". It was on it that the composition would appear later, which would become if not the band's calling card, then for sure would go down in the history of their best songs. Betting on just one single played an ingenious role - CCR hit the Billboard 200, and "Proud Mary." has become a classic of the genre.
The composition about "Proud Mary" was written by By John FogertyThe band's permanent vocalist and guitarist. It was written shortly after the CCR frontman was discharged from the National Guard. After serving, Fogerty had a new outlook on life and began to nurture a real inspirationso the lyrics started pouring out.
"I knew the song was going to be a hit as soon as I finished writing it. No doubt about it!" said John Fogerty.
Moreover, it is interesting that for Fogerty himself the composition "Proud Mary." was an unusual experience, for then John became aware of his sonwriter's talent.
"Before, when I used to write songs, they always seemed kind of ordinary to me. I was used to them not being very good, but with 'Proud Mary' it was different..." the CCR frontman admitted.
"Proud Mary" was almost a major hit in the U.S., taking the No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chartand in 2004 Rolling Stone included it in its list of the 500 best songs of all time. This CCR song was also inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame Grammy Awards as a musical record of historical significance.
Lyrical Meaning
The intent of the text is quite interesting: Fogerty wrote it after he came up with the music. The chords from the song are beaten through the introduction to one of the most famous compositions in classical music, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. By adding a rhythm, John realized that the song was like a boat movement. That's what he decided to write the lyrics about. The most famous line, "Rollin' on the river," was inspired by a movie about river boats.
The name for the ship was also accidental: Fogerty kept a notebook where he wrote down possible titles for future songs, and after writing these lines, he saw "Proud Mary." Surprisingly, the composition was written literally in two hours!
Turner's version
CCR song "Proud Mary." was a combination of blues, country rock, rockabilly, soul, and gospel. And in many ways it was the latter two genre features that attracted the attention of rhythm and blues stars. The cover of the song was first released Solomon BurkeThe version of which, though it has not reached the heights of the original, is still appreciated by soul fans.
But the real breakthrough came when Tina Turner and her husband Ike recorded their version. At first they performed the song on tour, but at some point the stars realized that "Proud Mary" in soul interpretations could be a hit. Tina recorded her voice while standing in front of the musicians, so the sound was unified and mesmerizing. This cover appeared on the album "Ike And Tina Turner Workin' Together" and won the prestigious Grammy Award.
In 1993, a new interpretation of the CCR song by the "Queen of Rock and Roll," recorded for the biographical album "What's Love Got to Do with It" and has received numerous platinum certifications worldwide. Tina's performance at Wembley Stadium even surpassed the official lyric video in terms of views Creedence Clearwater Revival.
How CCR became a Southern rock legend
Creedence Clearwater Revival formed in the suburbs San Francisco, in the southwestern United States. They went down in history as representatives of southern rock, even though the main concentration of stern rock The performers were in more southern Texas.
It's all the fault of the stylewhich CCR preached. They performed roots-rock that gravitated toward country and folk, so the sound of their songs was as authentic as it emerged from blues-rock and a combination with folk themes. Legendary songs like, "Fortunate Son." and "Run Through The Jungle", were written in the tradition of ordinary guys from the good old American South. CCR differed from other rockers with the interesting vocals of the frontman John Fogerty and vivid stage imagery, and were able to make a significant impact on musical culture. Their work is still highly regarded today.
