I know Wikipedia gets a bad rap, but I love it. It’s definitely been a valuable resource when compiling a lot of these Song of the Day posts, especially the Motown ones. The wealth of information about Billboard charts, authorship and behind-the-scenes drama (all meticulously footnoted) is extraordinary.
For instance, the entry on the 1965 Supremes hit ‘I Hear a Symphony’ details how the band had hit a slump (comparatively speaking) when their previous release, ‘Nothing But Heartaches,’ peaked at #11 on the Billboard charts. This upset Motown guru Berry Gordy and prompted him to write the following memo:
“We will release nothing less than Top Ten product on any artist; and because the Supremes’ world-wide acceptance is greater than the other artists, on them we will only release number-one records.”
The songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland responded by penning ‘I Hear a Symphony,’ which promptly returned the band to the top of the charts. Ask and ye shall receive, Mr. Gordy. Funny how art can be delivered at the request of management.
A symphony
A tender melody
Pulling me closer
Closer to your arms
Then suddenly, I hear a symphony
Ooh, your lips are touching mine
A feeling so divine
‘Till I leave the past behind
I’m lost in a world
Made for you and me
Whenever you’re near
I hear a symphony
Play sweet and tenderly
Every time your lips meet mine now baby
Baby, baby
You bring much joy within
Don’t let this feeling end
Let it go on and on and on
Now baby, baby
Those tears that fill my eyes
I cry not for myself
But for those who never felt the joy we felt
Whenever you’re near
I hear a symphony
Each time you speak to me
I hear a tender rapsody of love now
Baby, baby
As you stand holding me
Whispering how much you care
A thousand violins fill the air
Now baby, baby
Don’t let this moment end
Keep standing close to me
Ooh, so close to me, baby, baby
Baby, baby
I hear a symphony
A tender melody
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree that Wikipedia is actually a wonderful resource for most everyday needs. Just because I don’t want my attorney or doctor to use it to prep my case or determine my course of treatment, doesn’t mean it can’t serve a function in society 🙂
And, wow, if Gordy actually wrote that… just WOW. Have you ever seen a more clearly articulated case of art as commerce? It makes me shudder. I want to see the songs in the HDH trash bin, the ones they worried would only peak at 14 (or, for The Supremes, 6). The ones they felt wouldn’t crack the charts at all. That would be an exhibit in the Rock Hall!!
I like this song very much, and Diana Ross looks just beautiful in the video.
I didn’t know Wikipedia gets such a bad rap. I think it’s a great resource, at least for getting quick answers on pop cultural matters.That story about Gordy is way cool and worth every dime you pay for Wikipedia (oh, that’s right, it’s FREE–another reason to stop knocking it!)
As for the song, it never really did much for me. A bit too slow. It always sounded to me like a watered down version of Where Did Our Love Go?
Incidentally, I wonder if, back in the days of payola, Gordy could very much assure that the Supremes made it to number one:)
Fascinating. So maybe the memo was meant for the deejays who hadn’t been holding up their end of the bargain (or, um, contract?) A little reminder that his expectations were that the song must crack the top ten or, if it were a Supremes song, hit #1. That makes sense – and makes me shudder even more.
In terms of arts as commerce, I think Hollywood still takes the cake in that regard. How many movie endings have been re-edited or re-shot because some test audience in Iowa wanted a happier outcome?
Hard to believe I used to wear my hair like that 🙂