Charade (Bee Gees song)

"Charade" is a ballad written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb released in 1974 by the Bee Gees. It was the third and final single released from the Mr. Natural album. This track was edited to 3:14 for its single version. Like the parent album, the single was not a hit and only managed to climb to #31 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in late 1974. It did reach the Top 10 in Chile, peaking at #7.

"Charade"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Mr. Natural
B-side"Heavy Breathing"
ReleasedAugust 1974
Recorded20 December 1973
IBC Studios, London
GenreBlue-eyed soul, orchestral pop
Length4:13 (album)
3:14 (single)
LabelRSO, Mercury
Songwriter(s)Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
Producer(s)Arif Mardin
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Throw a Penny"
(1974)		 "Charade"
(1974)		 "Jive Talkin'"
(1975)

Background

This song was recorded on 20 December 1973 in IBC Studios, London and made full use of Arif Mardin's talents as arranger, with Phil Bodner's clarinet solo at the song's instrumental break. Three days later, the Bee Gees and the backing band spent some time crossfading this track into "Throw a Penny" with a quiet sound effect and "Throw a Penny" into "Down the Road" with a newly recorded link track.[1]

The singer said that they made their love in the sand at summer nights and they held their love hand in hand at the dawn and they listened to the ocean where the music is playing, the words on the music is about their two hearts were saying that only two lovers can hear. They can follow the sun until the daylight is gone they can gaze at the sky until the night is over, the light of his life as she was welcome to his charade.[2] This track has also a gripping chorus, ethereal harmonies and deserves to be around for years to come.[3]

The song starts with a Fender Rhodes electric piano played by Geoff Westley. On 0:46, Arif Mardin's orchestra and strings arrangement was heard. At 1:16, Robin Gibb takes the lead vocal his first line on this song was And this feeling. At 2:19, the instrumental break was started as Phil Bodner's clarinet was heard.[4]

Billboard praised the refrain and the harmony vocals, saying that it was the Bee Gees "strongest release" in years.[3]

Chart performance
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary Charts (RPM)[5] 32
Chile Top 100 Singles Chart[5] 7
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] 103
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening Charts[7] 31

Cover versions
  • Hajji Alejandro, a Filipino singer sang the melody of this song in 1976, with Tagalog lyrics by Willy Cruz as "Tag-araw... Tag-ulan" (Summer and Rain). "Tag-Araw, Tag Ulan" was later covered by Filipina singer Joey Albert.[8] The melody was also used by Tito, Vic & Joey as a parody in their 1977 album, the song is called "Kajjo Department" with different lyrics.[9]
  • Samantha Sang recorded "Charade" for her first album Emotion on which the title track written also by Barry and Robin Gibb.

Charade was recorded in Portuguese by Brazilian artist Ana Gazzola and included on her album Musicas e Palavras dos Bee Gees.

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References
  1. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1973". Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  2. "Bee Gees - Charade". Metrolyrics. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. October 19, 1974. p. 58. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  4. "Bee Gees - Charade". YouTube. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  6. "Billboard: Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Billboard. 7 December 1974. p. 24. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  7. "Billboard Top 50: Easy Listening". Billboard. 26 December 1974. p. 26. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. "Joey Albert - Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan" (Live)". YouTube. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. "tito vic & joey - kajjo dept". YouTube. Retrieved 21 December 2014.


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