Billboard Top 40 Hits 1971: #207: ‘Brand New Key’- Melanie
- Single: ‘Brand New Key’- Melanie
- Record Company- Neighborhood
- Genre: Folk
- Written by Melanie Safka
- Time: 2:26
- B-side: ‘Some Say [I Got Devil]
- Album- Gather Me
- Grade: C
- Peaked at #1 3 weeks in Billboard Hot 100.
Melanie Safka a folk-pop singer-songwriter- was born in Queens, New York in 1947. From 1970–73 she had 9 Hot 100 hits with 6 making the Top 40. She appeared at Woodstock -before she even had a record out.
slicethelife 
a memorable hit if nothing else…my brother used to annoy my mom no end playing the single …frequently.
My brother did the same with “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.” I feel yourr pain.
I loved this song as a kid, and still do today. The only difference is that, as an adult, I actually understand the context. 😉
I’ll always love Melanie’s music; even this one. She fit perfectly into those times, emerging from the Greenwich Village folk scene. She was a beautiful and talented solo artist, with a fun, witty personality.
My fingers hit a wrong key or something and Dave’s comments were deleted–didn’t mean to do that….
She has a goofy voice, maybe for this song only.
Such a poster child for the hippies. This is a cutesy fey little number but I don’t think listening to a whole LP by her would be time well spent.
To those who diss Melanie based on this one song…that happened to be a mega hit, I challenge you to sample more of her music. Start with ‘Miranda’ from the Phil Ochs memorial concert in 1976. Then ‘Peace Will Come’, ‘Ruby Tuesday’, and the ‘Nickel Song’. Then more if you want. She does serious as well as novelty. Her music and lyrics won’t be everyone’s taste; and other than this song, her music wasn’t overhyped enough to be taken seriously by listeners who take their cues from that sort of promotion. But the talent and musicianship are there in abundance. I say she’s legit.
Hey, don’t get me wrong, I hear your point, and yes she did do a damned decent ‘Candles In The Rain’ with the Edwin Hawkins Singers. But also ‘Alexander Beetle.’ So, win some lose some?
I wasn’t pointing directly at you, so please don’t think I was being confrontational. It seems to be popular to dismiss Melanie because of Brand New Key. Not liking the song is fine, but dismissing an accomplished solo singer-songwriter-performer who paid her dues the way the others of that era did, just because of one hit with fun lyrics and melody, isn’t any more of a legit critique of her than it would be to dismiss Paul McCartney because of Silly Love Songs. I’ll step down from my soap box now.
No, you have a point, all music is good; and anyone who has put out a million seller is doing something quantum times more worthy than my miserly critique! tend to have a snarky side, is all.