On March 30, 1974, John Denver’s song “Sunshine on My Shoulders” became his first number one hit. The song — co-written by Denver, Dick Kniss, and Mike Taylor — first appeared on the album Poems Prayers & Promises
Denver’s previous single, “Rocky Mountain High” was a hit too, but it only went to number nine in 1973 on the Hot 100 chart. The timing may have had something to do with the popularity of “Sunshine on My Shoulder.” The song about sunshine warming you up might be popular as winter was coming to a close in March.
There is another reason the timing may have helped the song’s popularity. The sad-sounding song might might have received a boost from the fact that the nation was in a melancholy mood as the Watergate scandal dragged on in 1974.
Another reason that “Sunshine on My Shoulders” may have gotten a boost to be Denver’s first number one song is that in 1973 the song had appeared in a TV movie, “Sunshine,” which starred Cliff DeYoung and Cristina Raines. The sad sound of the song perfectly fit the storyline, about a woman who learns she has terminal cancer and then starts to tape record a journal for her musician-husband and their daughter.
In the movie, which later led to a short-lived TV series, Cliff DeYoung sings “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” You may hear the version DeYoung, who was in a band before he began his acting career, on YouTube (around the five-minute mark).
More recently, Carly Rae Jepson covered the song for a new generation. Her version appears on her 2008 album Tug of War
Despite the sad sound of the original version, the lyrics are more uplifting than depressing. Things cannot be too bad if the singer promises, “If I had a day that I could give you, I’d give to you a day just like today.” Further, the only crying is from sunshine in the eyes. And most of the time sunshine makes the singer high.
Denver, who passed away in October 1997, explained in 1974 that he wrote “Sunshine on My Shoulders” because he was feeling down and “wanted to write a feeling-blue song.” But he realized that the song ended up being more optimistic than he had originally intended. The song “is what came out.”
What is your favorite John Denver song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
John Denver’s songs are in some ways very “timeless” in those John Denver countries. Just like smells to some people, songs are my mnemonic device. Although I’m not the most faithful fan, his songs often bring back fond memories of road trips through those places — Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, West Virginia etc. A lot of his seemingly uplifting songs do sound kind of melancholy, or maybe they just sound nostalgic?
Avett Brothers recently (sort of) covered some of his songs. Here’s my favorite (at the Red Rocks Amphitheater!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kscd6-Z47vI
On another sad note, see my comment on the “Snow Angels” post.
We may associate John Denver with memories at least partly because his music (and Denver as a singer and actor) was everywhere for several years. For many of us, those years will always be connected to him. Thanks for the Avett Brothers cover of one of my favorite Denver songs.