Godspeed Melanie

Singer/songwriter Melanie Safka, best known simply by her first name "Melanie," died on January 23 2024 at the age of 76. She was best known for such songs as "Brand New Key," "What Have They Done to My Song Ma," and her cover of The Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday.

Melanie was born on February 3 1947 in Queens in New York City. She was only four years old when she sang on the radio show Live Like a Millionaire. Her family moved to Long Branch, New Jersey, she attended Long Branch High School. After running away to California, she returned to New Jersey where she attended Red Bank High School in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Before she even graduated high school she performed at The Inkwell, a coffee house in Long Branch. After graduating from high school she studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She started performing at folk music clubs in Greenwich Village in New York City. She signed with Columbia Records and released two singles on the label, "Beautiful People" in 1967 and "Garden City" in 1968. Neither charted. She then signed with Buddah Records. Her first several singles on the label would not chart in the United States, although "Bo Bo's Party" went to no. 33 on the Belgian singles chart. Her first album, Born to Be, was released in November 1968.

In 1969 she performed at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair. The experience inspired her song "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," which turned out to be her first hit. It reached no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. She followed "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" with "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)," which reached no. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her biggest hit, "Brand New Key," was released in October 1971. It hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian singles chart. It went to no. 4 in the United Kingdom. It was also in 1971 that she left Buddah Records, and formed her own label, Neighbourhood Records.

Melanie would only have two more singles reach the Billboard Hot 100, "Ring the Living Bell," which reached no. 31 on the Hot 100 in 1972, and "Bitter Bad," which peaked at no. 36 on the Hot 100 in 1973. While Melanie no longer hit the charts, she maintained a loyal following and continued to record and perform for the rest of her life. In all she released over thirty studio albums. Prior to her death she had been in the studio recording cover songs for what would be her 32nd album.

Melanie was certainly a pioneer for independent recording artists, having founded her own label in 1971. And while she was not often recognized for her contributions to music in the early Seventies, she would have an impact on future recording artists. Her voice was surely unique, blending the delicacy of Joan Baez with the sheer power of Janis Joplin. Melanie also defied genre. Her biggest hit, "Brand New Key," evoked Tin Pan Alley in the Thirties. "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" was more straight-forward folk rock. Her music explored the human condition, from lost love to being weary of the world. And her songs, even when they were on serious subjects, often had a sense of humour. Melanie was certainly in a class all her own.