I’ve been pulling these Motown Weekend titles from a Web site listing the ‘100 Greatest Motown Songs.’ I don’t necessarily agree with their order but the top 25 has provided me fodder for nearly 3 months worth of fabulous hit songs from the golden era.
I’m less excited, though, by the songs lower on the list. So rather than highlighting those lesser efforts, I’m going to finish out the Motown series by focusing on the #1 singles of The Supremes. I’ve already featured ‘Where Did Our Love Go‘ and ‘Baby Love‘ but they had… wait for it… TEN more #1 singles in their career.
Diana Ross would go on to have six more as a solo artist in the 70s and 80s, giving her 18 total. Scary fact: Mariah Carey has 18 number one singles, the most of any solo artist and second only to The Beatles overall. I don’t want to bash Mariah Carey, but that just doesn’t seem right.
‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ was a 1966 release, and The Supremes eighth to hit #1. Kim Wilde remade it 20 years later and it hit #1 again. I wonder how many songs share that distinction.
Get out my life, why don’t cha babe
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on
You don’t really need me
But you keep me hangin’ on
Why do you keep a coming around
Playing with my heart?
Why don’t you get out of my life
And let me make a new start?
Let me get over you
The way you’ve gotten over me
Set me free, why don’t cha babe
Let me be, why don’t cha babe
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on
Now you don’t really want me
You just keep me hangin’ on
You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
And there ain’t nothing I can do about it
Woo, set me free, why don’t cha babe
Woo, get out my life, why don’t cha babe
Set me free, why don’t cha babe
Get out my life, why don’t cha babe
You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
Now that you’ve got your freedom
You wanna still hold on to me
You don’t want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else Hey!
Why don’t you be a man about it
And set me free
Now you don’t care a thing about me
You’re just using me
Go on, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
‘Cause you don’t really love me
You just keep me hangin’ on…
Meet Me In Montauk 
Okay, you now have to start watching How I Met Your Mother. I insist. đŸ˜‰
It so bothers me (and Eminem) that Mariah Carey’s name could be uttered in the same breath as that of The Supremes or The Beatles, or even Diana Ross, though I suppose she has the most in common with her. Not sure why. I guess if she’s sold the records, she’s reached an enormous audience.
As a person who tends not to like much repetition in my songs, the first half of this one grates on me a bit, so it’s not one of my favorite Motown selections. I look forward to remembering some of their other greatest hits.
Okay, I took the bait and tried to find songs that were number one by two artists. ot so easy to find that out, but here’s a link to some of the best covers of all time…http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_coversongs.html
By the way, here’s another song that starts with the chorus.:)
Just love the hairdos and outfits!