Talk:Unchained Melody

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Untitled[edit]

Infoboxes were requested for the the Les Baxter and Al Hibbler recordings of "Unchained Melody" (both from 1955) at Wikipedia:WikiProject_Missing_encyclopedic_articles/List_of_notable_songs/14. —Preceding unsigned comment added by InnocuousPseudonym (talk • contribs) 05:32, August 27, 2007 (UTC) Reuters just had an article today that stated that this song is currently the tenth most popular song to be requested to be played at funerals in the UK. If we can find a less-temporary source for this (Reuters does not keep its articles up online for long, it seems), it would be good to add it in to the article, I think. 4.235.69.206 20:26, 3 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

William Stirrat[edit]

This article claims the song was written by William Stirrat (aka Hy Zaret), however the William Stirrat page redirects to Hy Zaret, whose page claims that William Stirrat claimed untruthfully that Hy Zaret was his pen name. Who is lying here?

It should be all clear now--Work permit 06:06, 13 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It appears that this was dealt with by simply deleting all mention of Stirrat from the article. But since many people (including RPI, Stirrat's alma mater) are still passing this story around, it seems like the article should mention the controversy, no? -- 136.152.180.32 01:00, 18 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]

There is an article on William Stirrat that outlines the whole case. There is a link to that article in the notes section for Hy Zaret. Do you think it needs mentioning here as well? --Work permit 02:00, 18 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]
That page has been deleted86.187.163.186 (talk) 10:31, 3 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The focus of this article is really quite bad, personally, one of the worst I have seen on Wikipedia. Gareth Gates need not be mentioned to such a prominent level, certainly not worth a separate heading. The focus of this article needs to be on the mechanics of the song, not on people who got rich from it. People who got rich from it simply need their own article. THERE NEEDS TO BE a lot more focus on the early years of the song... ie. How did Al Hibbler get to record the first vocal version of it OUTSIDE of its original version in the movie? Why wasn't the movie version ever released as a record? How did the first record version (which was instrumental, not Hibbler) come to be? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 123.192.8.80 (talk) 22:39, 29 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Structure[edit]

The article has no structure, which needs to be addressed. LuciferMorgan 10:42, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I tried to structure it. Munaim 15:20, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Roy[edit]

Roy Orbison recorded a great version of this song. You can hear it on "The Essential Roy Orbison" and on "Roy Orbison's many moods" from 1969. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 84.196.237.102 (talk) 13:10, 28 December 2006 (UTC).[reply]


few vocal works whose lyrics do not feature the title of the song[edit]

Is it true that there are few such works? Subterranean Homesick Blues, Positively 4th Street, Black Dog (Led Zepplin), You Know My Name, Bohemian Rhapsody, Annie's Song, 59th Street Bridge Song, New York Mining Disaster 1941, Creeque Alley comes to mind. If you include those with only some of the title in the song (e.g. Weekend in New England ) the list gets bigger.--Work permit 04:05, 23 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I decided to add a new page "User:Work permit/List of songs whose title does not appear in the lyrics" for such songs--Work permit 04:49, 23 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No such list is feasible to any level of completion - songs that have titles that don't appear in the lyrics are relatively common. You're just Tubthumping.
Proof of my assertion: you could start with many songs called '(Title) Blues' and if you ever get through them, move onto songs called '(The) (Title) Song', and concept titles (e.g. Glory Box).
By definition, instrumentals qualify, and many 'near-instrumentals' also qualify (e.g. 'Song 2'). -- Centrepull (talk) 07:22, 9 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Trivia[edit]

I'd like to get a discussion going on whether the "notable versions" section contains too much trivia. With over 500 versions (AMG claims 697), clearly listing every version is trivia. But we should list more then a few. What's "notable"? Perhaps a version that charted, or a version by an artist that is very notable, or other ovious criterion (such as american idol versions).--Work permit 02:06, 13 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I agree. The article currently descends into a list of trivia. I would like to have read something about what its writers said about it, or how it is structured, or critical reaction. Sadly, I know nothing about these things myself or I would add them... 193.133.69.162 (talk) 09:37, 16 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I'd be inclined to remove the entire section, for the reasons above. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 18:15, 1 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I've removed the entire section. There are well over 2000 covers of this song. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 13:29, 19 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I think it would be worthwhile to mention that The Righteous Brothers themselves re-recorded Unchained Melody in 1990 and released it during the time their older version was popular from being in Ghost. For a few weeks, both singles were in the top 40, owing to the fact that the original version was mostly charting on airplay (it was available only as a vinyl single) and the new version mostly on sales, since it was available as a cassette single. I imagine sources could be found to support this information.Ww adh77 (talk) 01:01, 26 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Origin[edit]

At a Righteous Brothers/Smothers Brothers concert around 2000 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, the Righteous Brothers claimed that the text was from a letter written by a prison inmate to his sweetheart outside. Is that just the plot of Unchained? Or is it perhaps a true story?--Brian Sniffen 11:03, 4 July 2007 (EST)

Fair use rationale for Image:UnchainedMelodySingle.jpg[edit]

Image:UnchainedMelodySingle.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 11:51, 6 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Fair use rationale for Image:UnchainedMelodySingle.jpg[edit]

Image:UnchainedMelodySingle.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 01:55, 24 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I have added a non-free media rationale template to the image description page. I am not the original uploader, but to me it seems like fair use, and the information that I entered seems pretty obvious. On the other hand, I am a complete novice on the topic of Wikipedia fair-use statements (and fair use itself), so if this was not appropriate, I would appreciate it if someone would let me know, so that I can both learn and revert my change.Peter Chastain (talk) 21:22, 12 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Question about the release date[edit]

I have a question. Is the release date 1965 or 1955? Many times, I have seen the date of composition as 1955 (and listening to the music, it sounds more like the 1950s music than the 1960s music) but in the infobox says that it was not released until 1965. So I just would like to know the actual release date to determine whether the infobox is correct or not. NHRHS2010 |  Talk to me  22:29, 29 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The release date given is for the Righteous Brothers version, as that is what the infobox covers. 195.72.169.116 (talk) 09:35, 16 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Colloquial name[edit]

Is this song sometimes informally called "Unchained Love"?-达伟 (talk) 22:12, 17 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Not to my knowledge. Rothorpe (talk) 22:36, 17 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Who is Gareth Gates?[edit]

Shouldn't he be resigned to the other numerous covers that are mentioned? I don't see anything 'notable' in regard to his cover of this song. It just seems like a horrible wart on an otherwise decent page. 78.150.202.101 (talk) 06:26, 22 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Gene Vincent and Blue Caps[edit]

I am curious as to why the first inductee to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and later Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist, Gene Vincent, is not listed in the main text. His October 1956 studio session, resulting in a version of "Unchained Melody" in Nashville was released in March 1957 on the album "Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps." With "Be-Bop-A-Lula" under his belt earlier, Gene Vincent greatly added to the audience and popularity of "Unchained Melody". It would be nice to see him appear in the main part of the article on the song ----Hawkiz — Preceding unsigned comment added by Hawkiz (talk • contribs) 22:43, 29 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

2948 versions[edit]

http://allmusic.com/search/song/unchained+melody — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.69.169.246 (talk) 11:41, 1 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Confusing opening sentence[edit]

The opening sentence is confusing:

"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret who wrote it in 1936.

The year 1936 doesn't come up again, and the article states that the song was commissioned in 1955. Besides, according to the article on William Stirrat the 1936 date is bogus anyway:

an imposter who claimed to use a pen name, "Hy Zaret," as the lyricist of the hit "Unchained Melody." However, Unchained Melody was written by a man really named Hy Zaret... According to Stirrat, he wrote "Unchained Melody" in 1936...

Whether or not anyone wants to believe the Stirrat claim, surely 1936 can't be mentioned without referring to Stirrat in some way.Lyn50 (talk) 12:51, 9 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

(I see that this has come up before and was cleared up, but it has apparently been changed since then.Lyn50 (talk) 12:53, 9 February 2012 (UTC))[reply]

Removing overkill[edit]

I have removed the LeAnn Rimes infobox and moved information about her in the lead to further down the article. She no more merits an infobox in this article or mention in the lead than any of the many other performers who had hit records with this song, the Righteous Brothers excepted. Have also removed it from the chart performances where it was out of place because unlike the others listed there, it never achieved number one . Moriori (talk) 00:06, 24 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

A one person consensus does not merit you to remove notable information, this is not your Wikipedia and there was no overkill just your personal opinion. Rimes' version is very notable and is not over kill as she is the only country singer to top the song on the Country Song charts at number three. Next time do not remove information on a one person consensus Moriori. ^_^ Swifty*talk 16:05, 30 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Swifty. I have reverted you, and left a note as required in your mentorship conditions, at User talk:Worm That Turned. Moriori (talk) 03:26, 31 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I'd suggest that the Rimes stuff is still 'over the top', and should be no more than a para in the 'other notable versions' list. Wayne 04:07, 2 March 2014 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wayne aus (talk • contribs)

I think I've already made some of the corrections you suggest Wayne aus. Page is much better than it was. Ckruschke (talk) 17:47, 3 March 2014 (UTC)Ckruschke[reply]

Public domain[edit]

This site claims that the song has entered the public domain. If it's right, can someone find a free version to upload on Commons? Ftiercel (talk) 10:43, 2 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It has not. Re-read the article and you'll see that it claims that had copyright law not been changed in 1978, the song could have entered the public domain this year. Since the law was changed though, the song has retained its copyright. Imzadi 1979 → 16:24, 14 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Grupo Yndio's Version[edit]

On the Yndio's Wiki page, it mentions the song "Melodia Desencadenada," which is really a Spanish cover of the song. Hear here. ElMeroEse (talk) 18:30, 28 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Academy Awards nomination[edit]

"The song was nominated in 1955 for an Oscar for best original song from the film Unchained."We go through this every time. The song was nominated in early 1956 for the 1955 awards. Cross Reference (talk) 16:56, 19 August 2020 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified[edit]

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Request for Comment[edit]

Soul singer and writer Sam Cooke did a cover of the song "Unchained Melody" in 1960, as one can see here, and which version gained somewhat popularity, but not as much as that made by the "Righteous Brothers." A fellow editor thought that Sam Cooke's version of the song may not be notable enough to have mentioned in this article. Would welcome other opinions about his notability and whether to mention him here.Davidbena (talk) 00:07, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Please see WP:RFCBEFORE. There is no need to go straight to a full-blown thirty-day formal RfC for this - just discuss in the normal manner. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 09:11, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Hundreds of people have recorded it, it is not feasible to include every cover. You need to demonstrate some kind of notability for it to be included, that means you need to add reliable sources that discuss the song (random listing sites or blogs are not acceptable), see WP:SONGCOVER. You also should not add a separate section when there is only have a single line of text (it should be in the section with other notable songs). Hzh (talk) 10:16, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
I understand you. So, is there a place to mention in rapid order the 20 or so some odd artists who have made a cover of Unchained Melody?Davidbena (talk) 16:20, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
There is a list of covers under the "Other notable versions" section. Do read WP:SONGCOVER on what may be included. You need to provide at least a source (for example books, news articles, reviews, etc.) that talks about the cover. Avoid using blogs or listing sites only because they don't count towards notability. The fact that someone recorded the song for an album is not enough for inclusion. It is possible to include a cover if it appeared on a national chart, although not all editors accept it without other sources. Hzh (talk) 20:40, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. I am no expert in these matters, and I have little information about the scope of Sam Cooke's achievements when doing his version of the song. If I should ever find something worthy of note, I'll get back to you. Anyway, you've made a convincing point and I thank you for that. Be well.Davidbena (talk) 21:55, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
I've just recalled that there is a related discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Songs#RfC regarding WP:SONGCOVER. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 23:00, 11 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. So, this basically supports what our friend Hzh has been saying.Davidbena (talk) 01:30, 12 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

WP:SONGCOVER[edit]

This article is ready for cover version trimming. I'll get to it soon. --jpgordon𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇 14:41, 16 April 2023 (UTC)[reply]

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