Video Summary
Unveiling the Iconic Rock Anthem: The Story Behind the 1971 Hit
Introduction
Delve into the backstory of a rock anthem that captivated audiences in 1971. Explore how a silly kid’s song from a failed TV show transformed into the biggest hit of the year, as narrated by the legendary lead singer himself.
Unveiling the Origin of a Rock Classic Anthem
- Delving into the backstory of an iconic rock anthem told by the legendary lead singer himself. Just utter the first two words of this song, and everyone joins in singing along. Perhaps the most recognizable and adored opening lines in pop music history, this narrative is truly unbelievable. Penned by an actor from a major 80s film, whose mother also claimed a chart-topping hit, it was initially dismissed by the band as too silly to record. After multiple rejections, the eventual singer saw the humor in it, recorded it, and catapulted it to the top of the charts in the early 70s. Get ready to be entertained by the fascinating tale of this classic hit on the upcoming episode of Professor of Rock, presented by Zed. Dive into the world of music with Professor of Rock, where we honor the greatest artists and songs of all time. Whether you’ve lip-synced in front of the mirror or not, this channel is for all music enthusiasts. Subscribe now for legendary music stories straight from the source. Explore our new merchandise by clicking above and consider joining our Patreon for exclusive content supporting music preservation. Visit professorrock.com for more.
The Timeless Magic of ‘Joy to the World’
- When I was growing up, Classic Rock Radio filled our home with music. ‘Joy to the World’ by Chuck Negron was a standout amidst all the records my parents played. The energy of the song was unmatched, and as a child, it felt like a musical nursery rhyme, invoking a sense of joy and invincibility. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Chuck Negron, the legendary voice behind this classic hit, and his story of redemption is truly heartwarming. ‘Joy to the World’ holds a special place in everyone’s heart, transcending time and generations.
The Transformation of ‘Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog’
- The band members were initially skeptical when Hoyt Axton presented them with his song ‘Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog’. Despite multiple attempts to sell it to different band mates, it was met with hesitation. However, lead singer, John, recognized its potential and insisted on working on it. The song went through a transformation from a failed morning cartoon theme to a gospel-inspired hit. When the band finally recorded it, they had to push the key up each time for the high-pitched ‘Jeremiah’ part. The musicians collaborated seamlessly to cover this challenging aspect of the song.
The Making of a Timeless Classic: Joy to the World
- One of the most iconic parts of the song ‘Joy to the World’ was the contribution of Joe, Michael, and Floyd. Joe and Michael had a special intuitive connection that added a rhythmic depth to the music. Their collaboration brought a unique energy to the song, filling it with lively rhythms. The band’s involvement was significant, with instruments like the Donata and the B3 complementing each other seamlessly. Even the accordion players, initially hesitant, joined in on the singing, adding a new dimension to the track. The background vocals, led by the band members, created a rich and powerful sound, especially with Corey’s ad-libs and Danny’s distinctive voice. Danny’s voice, with its depth and character, complemented the intensity of the other vocals, adding a smoothness to the overall performance. The unity of the band members during the big chorus exemplified their joy and camaraderie, making ‘Joy to the World’ a fitting title for the song. The song’s infectious joy resonated with listeners, leading to its widespread popularity. It was DJ Larry Bergman in Seattle who first recognized the song’s potential, sparking a chain reaction of positive feedback. The band’s sincerity and authenticity in creating ‘Joy to the World’ set it apart as their most heartfelt composition, resonating with audiences on a profound level. The song’s enduring relevance was further highlighted when it experienced a resurgence years later, featured in the movie ‘The Big Chill’. Seeing a young boy singing the song evoked deep emotions, underscoring the impact and timelessness of the music.
The Impact of Three Dog Night’s ‘Joy to the World’ in Popular Culture
- and important enough to have a child and you knew it had to happen it had happened it was it was very special it was very special for me and you know those are the things in your dark in my dark times that showed me with all the self-loathing that I had that in fact I’d done something at least something that was good you know in a time when people together you know in the time I needed to know that yeah if they were to re-release it I think that could have made its way up the charts again I was I was talking to Bill Medley about the Righteous Brothers about Like You Lost That Loving Feeling on Top Gun and he said the same thing yeah yeah kind of said that there were a lot of songs in the 80s where they played 60 songs that they would have released it again it could have went down especially having such a a forum in that movie it was a great great scene oh yeah yeah it helps make the movie what it is because Big Chill is really about Baby Boomers and where they are now and such a huge soundtrack and to be on that and also to be on Forrest Gump somebody said world peace is in our hands but all I did was play ping pong you know I thought well you know this is an important movie in the sense of the oil of Music they’re using and we’re a part of it we’re a part of it and that record sold eight million copies all over the world they gave you know the award they gave was a Bubba Gump Shrimp Box with the riaa signal and the the CD double CD Wow it was nice to be a part of Americana so to speak is is very very special that’s what was great about that movie is it it brought the the music and the history together yes for the younger I mean I remember when I went and saw it I was just so blown away and of course went out right out and bought the soundtrack because I’d heard those songs a million times from my dad show me yeah it was great to hear that progression but also friends Jeremiah was a bullfrog it’s so nice it’s a part of this someone’s using one one of these cartoons is using oh no it’s Joy to the World it’s a sausage party sausage party yeah it’s joy of the world they use it at the very end [Applause] someone else is using one because I’m real bad with that stuff Denver Broncos also use it played at the end of the Super Bowl [Applause] and then another thing that kind of brings it back around to what influenced you as a kid Little Richard Jeremiah was a bullfrog I did not know that Little Richard covered it and The Supremes and The Four Tops covered it yeah released their version later on it’s interesting is also the all the Frog marketing that happened with that song what they use with that you’ve probably got some pieces of that yeah I have more frogs than probably anyone in the world yeah I was going to bring you a little gift I’ve got something for you it was a frog yeah I was once given a um this really beautiful silver frog which I I still have I mean you know I felt like saying in an article I like gold frogs hey thanks so much for watching make sure to leave us a comment about this Master Classic of the rock and roll era what are your thoughts on this song and about three dog night and their broad catalog of Classics what are your memories of hearing them for the first time especially this song now if you like this video we do invite you to be you know full-time part of our community by subscribing we’d love to have you also we do invite you to check us out on patreon and go to professorbrock.com to check out for more things our merch help us keep the music alive that is our goal until next time three courts and the truth my friends we’ll see you soon
Conclusion
Experience the amazing journey of how a rejected song turned into a timeless classic that resonated with audiences for decades. Dive into the world of music history and explore the legacy of this iconic rock anthem.