@@william1918 I'm 39, not nearly old enough to have heard this on the radio when it came out but yeah of cording to my mom you're full of crap. She heard it on the radio all the time and in the 90s it was played oldies radio stations all the time.
Not sure why it is, but there is a common assumption by many reactors that if someone is singing a song, it must be autobiographical. I first noticed this with many reactions to Tom Jones singing, I'll Never Fall in Love Again, and the female reactors were just devastated that some woman broke his heart...really? Tom Jones?? Come on folks, it's a song. It has a message, and it is sung beautifully!
God Stephen you are so right a lot of these assume that the performers or singers of the song actually wrote it Jerry Fuller who produced and wrote some of their hits wrote the song
Yes you are right. Nearly every reaction, especially to love songs from this era, are treated by reactors as if the person or group singing have experienced what is in the song. It is just a song and was usually written by someone not involved in the group.
People tend to miss that Gary Puckett merely sang the song; the lyrics were written by Jerry Fuller. (As was often the case in 60s, groups were merely a vehicle for songs written by professional writers).
I was an innocent 14 year old when this song came out. I never thought about it in a sexual sense back then. Now, it screams jail bait to me. Still, a great song that first propelled them to the charts. This Girl is a Woman Now is another favorite.
Don W, I was also around that age and had a huge crush on one of my older male cousins and this was how he told me it wasn't going to happen. This was 1968, I was 14 and he was 17.😎😎😎😎
I grew up listening to all this classic music that you are reacting too. I never thought anything bad about it. Guess it was a much simpler innocent time. Now everything is given a bad meaning. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap had a lot of great songs such as "Woman, Woman", "Lady Willpower", "Over You", "Don't Give In to Him, & "This Girl Is a Woman Now". This music brings back good memories for me.
In the 60s in America . It was perfectly legal and considered normal in numerous states to marry young girls . This hit was on the radio all the time there was no thought or outrage for words in song . Your reaction goes with the change of time , it was 50 years ago . Great band great music . They had several other hits also . Check out Woman , Woman by Gary Puckett and the union gap too .
I loved their songs!! Memories of Junior High for me. Woman, Woman is another great song. So is Lady Willpower, Only You, & This Girl Is A Woman Now. Another group from that era, American Breed, had a great song, Bend Me, Shape Me. There were other songs by them, but basically a 1 hit wonder.
@@shelter9236 second verse of the song is a perfect description of the biggest crush of my life that started the same year the song was released. It never became more than a crush, but to this day, that song reminds me of him. 😍
OMGOSH!! WHAT MEMORIES! Gary Puckett was my all time favorite singer! He still has a good voice and does shows. It always bothers me when people act like the song is about a guy that is taking advantage of the girl, when in fact, HE is doing the right thing once he discovered that she was lying about her age! I appreciate that you understood that and said so. Gary Puckett is from the San Diego area. He and the Union Gap had several hit songs and then in 1970 he pursued a solo career as a singer. Among their hit songs was "Woman, Woman", "Lady Willpower", "Don't Give In to Him", and "Simple Man". You should check them all out. Gary's booming baritone voice was able to convey so much emotion! I look forward to seeing more of your reaction videos. I enjoy them!
"Go Away Little Girl" by Steve Lawrence (1963ish) was another song with a similar subject. Both were huge hits. Songs like this couldn't be written today.
I don't know why not--in a culture that accepts CUTIES and where the lefty pervs are trying to legitimize every other style of sickening deviant sexual behavior, legitimizing pedophilia is just the logical next step. It's coming. Just wait you'll see I'm right.
So was the Bobby Vee record "Come Back When You Grow Up Girl" released around 1969. But in all these songs the guy is telling the young girl it would be better if they kept their distance from each other. A better example of a famous older man/younger women song that is almost obscene and pornographic is the Stones' "Stray Cat Blues". Yet almost no one mentions it as offensive.
This is a precautionary tale as old as the moon. Young guy looking for love finds someone who's convincing enough to be acting beyond their age. Once the guy realises, he reacts the way he should by categorically stating she's much too young and his love for her is, 'way out of line.' So, he knows he's had a lucky escape, but due to his growing affections, i.e. the sense of love he thought he had for her, he finds it hard to accept that the, 'love', he feels is based on a lie. The guy in question did the right thing by basically pushing her away from him for both of their sakes. There's nothing nefarious going on here. Other than the sensibilities of present year getting in the way of what was always seen as a song about a young, inexperienced guy being naïve to the point of not realising the girl he was wanting to get involved with being younger than he was led to believe.
Yes Harri they are American. Gary Puckett was born in Minnesota. But they moved and he grew up in Yakima Washington State where I grew up. He got the name Union Gap from the suburb Union Gap next to Yakima. great selection and reaction as usual. God Bless my friend.
Love that your reaction is almost 180 degrees different from most reactors. They are shocked that such a subject matter is even in a song and immediately think the singer did the deed. I agree with your analysis, Well crafted song with a well known subject matter at the time it was crafted. Excellent examples used to illustrate the point of the lyric.
Rock had a lot of songs like this, "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (which I think was actually an old blues song) and a lot of early rock was intentionally directed toward young teen girls.
One of the best voices in rock music. When I was in college I bought every one of their albums as soon as they came out. Over 50 years later and he's still out there performing. Also considered one of the nicest people in the business.
Is it just a problem in Rock, or a fact of life? These were the teeny-bop years when pop music played to teen minors. I remember Teen Beat and Tiger Beat mags at the magazine stands. Still, the hispanic community plays largely into this with girls' quinceanera parties. And what about Maurice Chevallier's 'Thank Heaven For Little Girls' - he was not a pedophile, as far as I know. Where I grew up in a certain West Indies country there was no age limit on 'jailbait', rather a weight limit of 85 lbs, as if were sportfishing, seriously! You rightly pointed out that the singer is warning the girl off. Here's the most important thing to remember, WE CANNOT JUDGE PEOPLE IN THE PAST BY OUR STANDARDS OF THE PRESENT.
Wait, sexual consent was based on minimum weight of 85 pounds?? So if they caught someone in bed with a minor would they immediately weigh the child to see if s/he's legal? My Mom grew up in the time of Maurice Chevalier and he always made her flesh crawl.
They also forget the very next line in the song. "For little girls get bigger every day.". He is talking about seeing them as future prospects. How much in the future might be debatable but laws and norms were different back then. Eighteen being the determining age for being an adult is a relatively new concept. Society was different then and we didn't need a formal education to get decent jobs or to run a household. New families normally were setting up their new households within the same community, so if the new family needed help or advice there were plenty of relatives around to give either. They were not really on their own.
Terrific vocal! And the subject matter is very serious. I appreciate that the story is told from the point of view of a man who has some ethics, and wants to do the right thing.
Ah Harri you've done it again this time you've dug up Garry Puckett and the Union Gap with "Young Girl" great song brings back memories of the Golden era for music the 60's and 70's keep it up Harri,you're knocking them dead,cheers🇦🇺
I was that young girl My best friends and I sang and played in our local scene in 69. My boyfriend was older than me and was a Gary lookalike he sounded like home too he played drums for us seldom singing as he was shy. Well when we played the girls screamed for him to sing. One night out friend announced he would be singing that night.He sang this girl is a woman now. Our friend then announced that we had married. I was 16 he was 19 55years married this year. He still sings to me. I met him when I was 12
You MUST react to Into the Night by Benny Mardones! First of all, the song and his voice are absolutely stunning. Secondly, the lyrics and the video are now unintentionally funny to those of us who have lived through the cultural changes. MUST WATCH THE VIDEO! The song isn't that old - 1980, but it shows Benny Mardones at about 39 who is in love with a 16 year old girl and rolls his eyes when her father won't let him see her. So his solution is to creep by her bedroom's open window and entice her to get on a flying carpet so they can fly "Into the Night" together! The comments section on TH-cam is so hilarious that it's reached almost legendary status. I go there sometimes just when I need a good laugh
Omg Harri! These songs are etched into my DNA😂. I was in my early teens when this was a big hit. I never stopped to think that this was borderline creepy 😂😂Great choice 🌺✌️
One of the first singles I ever bought...I wasn't quite 10 years old, and loved the music, despite not really understanding the lyrics. Remember this being a big hit at the time, but it was not a one-hit wonder...the band had at least 4 or 5 other charting songs that were also quite good.
Different times - meaning less hypocritical. I was 14 when I first went out with my first husband - he was 4 years older than me. Nobody 'groomed me', nobody (including my parents) had a problem with this . . . because most of my fellow 14 year old friends had older boyfriends too. Even the song is not talking about a 10 year old! Lovely song.
Gary Pucket (short u) and the Union Gap are an American band, but you were correct in that they were in competition with the "British Invasion" of the times. Great voice, good band, and several nice hits worth reactions. Thanks for this.
Another of the great bands of the 60's. I remember another song by the Lovin' Spoonful titled "Younger Girl" that has a young girl theme. Great group with lots more hits.
I was 14 and he was 17. Things were much more innocent back then. No cell phones or computers. How lovely! We’ve loved each other all these years, and it just gets better and deeper still. 😁❤️
check out "mitch ryder and the detriot wheels" song "devil with a blue dress on/good golly miss molly". also check out the groups "dave clark 5" and "paul revere and the raiders"...all from the same era as gary puckett...mid-late '60s.
I LUV GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP .... GARY HAS AN AMAZING VOICE .... PLEASE DO NOT TALK THE SONG OUT OF ITS PROPER CONTEX !!!! ... THE SONG IS ACTUALLY SAYING THE GIRL IS TOO YOUNG, ALTHOUGH SHE TRYS TO PASS FOR OLDER! ... BUT HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO FALL INTO THAT TRAP!!!! ... AND TELLS HIMSELF! ... '' NO'' !!!! .... ITS AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE OF RIGHT AND WRONG! .. ITS A WARNING TO OTHERS .... ITS ABOUT CHOICES: GOOD OR BAD YOU PAY !!!!
First of all, if you pay attention, you realize she tricked him by appearing to be older-make up, dress. When he finds out how young she is, he'd already fallen for her. He is actually a stand up guy, who tells her nothing is going to come of the situation.
Gary Puckett was born in Hibbing Minnesota but was raised in Yakima Washington Born in 1942, Gary came to San Diego in 1960 and attended San Diego city college In 1062 packed in his studies to pursue a career in musicAfter struggling for five years in 1967 The Union Gap was formed with Gary Puckett and Kerry Chater on Bass Dwight Bement on guitar and sax Paul Wheatbread on drums Gary mutha Withem on piano organ and sax. Gary left demos with every Studio in Los Angeles only Jerry Fuller at Columbia records was interested
when this song was a top ten hit in 1968, the times were much different than they are today-radio would play this all the time without any controversy or banishment from the airwaves-the powers that be were more concerned with drug references which in some cases were fruitless as many drug songs hit the airwaves and became hits anyway. Go Away Little Girl by Donny Osmond in 1971 and Steve Lawrence back in 1963 is another perfect example-far more innocent age-today's society is just too jaded IMHO. If you lived back in the 50s and 60s and fast forward to today's societal norms-you would notice a drastic change of which I find that most are narrow and self righteous in view. In short, today's society needs to lighten up a bit and try to recapture some positivity and sense of humor.
The song was written by Jerry Fuller, who was not in the band but was their producer in the studio. Jerry also wrote 2 other big hits for them, "Lady Willpower" and "Over You."
Gary had/has such a great voice and their harmonies are impeccable!!! I was only 7 when the song came out. I don't know how old I was when I first heard it but I was probably too young to know exactly what the song was all about.
Again, I appreciate your exploration of music. No one that I know of has done this song. Tons of short good to great songs in the late 60's to early 70's. Good job.
It's always seemed to me that the early sixties was obsessed with underage girls. Wyman did meet his wife at fourteen, he waited until she was nineteen to marry her, and they remained married until his death a few months ago. He was wise to wait and let her grow up. There were "sweet sixteen" songs, "Go away, little girl, I'm not supposed to be alone with you" songs, "girl, you're a woman now" (I think they did it in that song.)
Harri - the band were all dressed in uniforms of the Union Army, a la Civil War America, and their Band Name is 'The Union Gap'. Guess where they come from. I have liked this band since my pre teen years, and this track was the one that fist caught my ear.
The lyrics taken as a whole, explain everything! It was a top 5 hit in the U.S., Top 1 in the U.K. and Australia, a Gold record! The notion that it was advocating for something inappropriate is simply wrong. They played this song and " Lady Willpower" on the Ed Sullivan show to boot!
Benny Mardones had a hit song called "Into the Night" in which he literally doesn't care that she was too young. The official video is kinda creepy cause he is clearly much older. I remember a Beatles song where it talks about putting the woman in the ground rather than see her with another man. If these songs were written today they would probably be banned. But then again, rappers refer to women as hos and b###h's and they get a pass.
Strangely enough, almost every one of their hits was about sex. “Woman, Woman” with its chorus asking whether she has cheating on her mind, “Don’t Give In to Him,” “This Girl is a Woman Now,” and even “Lady Willpower.” Of course my favorite, “Over You” wasn’t.
I was only 9 the first time I heard Gary puckett and I thought I was in love with him, 😂. I never thought of anything naughty but I dreamed of a special kiss from him. Many years later I had my first kiss at 16 and it was a let down compared to my dreams.
Hey Harri. Nubile young girls were a major theme in rock for years. Even the Beatles with “she was just seventeen, if you know what I mean” tapped on the line. Aside from that there are literally dozens of groups from the 60’s who turned in some great pieces of music. The Union Gap were pretty damn good, but they weren’t alone. Here are a few more suggestions Harri, all American, except for the EasyBeats, all important in pop music history for one reason or another, Enjoy: Jay and the Americans - “Cara Mia’ th-cam.com/video/1sFy5_kmEi4/w-d-xo.html or “Come a Little Bit Closer’ th-cam.com/video/D_W0Uu4Mua0/w-d-xo.html Tommy James and the Shondells - “I Think We’re Alone Now” th-cam.com/video/hFWhTqLSVzE/w-d-xo.html or “Mony Mony” th-cam.com/video/pkMgs3lFwkQ/w-d-xo.html The EasyBeats - ( the roots of AC/DC) ‘Friday On My Mind” th-cam.com/video/dnqxbdnzlhw/w-d-xo.html The Left Bank - ‘Walk Away Renee’ th-cam.com/video/6uqBTzfcIk4/w-d-xo.html The Association - ‘Never My Love’ th-cam.com/video/rI8hS6IystA/w-d-xo.html or ‘Cherish” th-cam.com/video/TFGEWffXR5A/w-d-xo.html The Box Tops - “The Letter” ( Alex Chilton to later form the cult group Big Star later ) th-cam.com/video/HIWY8UyW9bw/w-d-xo.html The Byrds - ( One of the most important groups in music history) ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ th-cam.com/video/PnstCrL1_e0/w-d-xo.html or “Turn, Turn, Turn” th-cam.com/video/W3xgcmIS3YU/w-d-xo.html The Buffalo Springfield - ( Another crucial American group ) ‘For What Its Worth’ th-cam.com/video/gp5JCrSXkJY/w-d-xo.html
BY THE WAY FACTS !!!! GARY DID '' NOT '' WRITE THIS SONG !!!!!! ... A SINGER SONGWRITER DID !!!! .... FACTS ARE IMPORTANT! ... Jerry Fuller "Young Girl" is a RIAA million-selling Gold-certified single that was written, composed, and produced by Jerry Fuller and performed by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap with instrumental backing by members of " The Wrecking Crew." It was released in 1968.
It was a different world back then. This song never raised any eyebrows back then, only now. Only Sixteen - Sam Cooke, You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and You're Mine) Johnny Burnette and later Ringo Starr. I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles. "She was just 17 you know what I mean." and many more.
To echo what Maya Nightwolf said Jerry Fuller wrote and produced Young Girl, over you and Lady Willpower. At a concert in agoura Hills California in 2019 Jerry Fuller came on stage and sang Young Girl. Jerry said he was at the Monterey pop festival in 1967 on his way home he picked up several teenagers. One girl seemed to like Jerry He came to his senses. And took all the girls home Talbots the story. From Jerry Fuller as of 2019 Gary Puckett was still singing the song
"Young Girl" was the very first album I ever owned - given as a present for my 12th birthday (in 1968) . I played it and OVER played it - NEVER caught the connotation back then of illicit love. At that age, at that particular time, love was an emotion, not necessarily a physical expression - at least I didn't see it that way. Years later, I looked back at Gary Puckett's works, and sort of noticed a thread of "sleaze" in his original hits, hidden behind the soft rock and his golden tone. I tried to listen to him more recently, got some of his more recent "concerts," and he sounded more like a cheap lounge singer.
Also check out “Younger Girl” (1966) by the Hondells (my favorite version, but it was also done by the Critters and the Lovin’ Spoonful). Just a few songs that directly concern teen girls are “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry, “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette, and “Hey Little Girl” by Dee Clark. No surprise that it's a common theme in early rock & roll, since the music was mostly intended for teenagers, while many of the singers were a bit older.
You really have to dig deep to find some great tracks by this group. I really got into this group when my concert choir teacher freshman year told me when I sang it reminded her of Gary Puckett. And I sang "This Girl is a Woman Now" in a talent show during homecoming that year.
Gary Puckett himself said, "She lied about her age. He found out she is younger then what she said, so he pushed her away. It doesn't mean jail bait, but younger then what she said.
we could do a whole list of songs like this Donny Osmond "Go Away Little Girl" The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me" Ringo Starr "You're 16 , You're Beautiful and you're Mine" Ted Nugent : "Jailbait"
I'll have to listen to Ringo's version of You're 16, You're Beautiful and You are Mine. The only version I have ever heard was by Johnny Burnette and his was back in 1960. Burnette was the original singer and his "hit #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100s in 1960 and #3 in the UK in 1961".
![ILLSLICK - THE KING'S LANDING [Freestyle]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/feIJJnNkTfk/mqdefault.jpg)
Back then people weren't offended by everything.
They banned this from the radio back then.
@@william1918 I'm 39, not nearly old enough to have heard this on the radio when it came out but yeah of cording to my mom you're full of crap. She heard it on the radio all the time and in the 90s it was played oldies radio stations all the time.
Not sure why it is, but there is a common assumption by many reactors that if someone is singing a song, it must be autobiographical. I first noticed this with many reactions to Tom Jones singing, I'll Never Fall in Love Again, and the female reactors were just devastated that some woman broke his heart...really? Tom Jones?? Come on folks, it's a song. It has a message, and it is sung beautifully!
God Stephen you are so right a lot of these assume that the performers or singers of the song actually wrote it Jerry Fuller who produced and wrote some of their hits wrote the song
Yes you are right. Nearly every reaction, especially to love songs from this era, are treated by reactors as if the person or group singing have experienced what is in the song. It is just a song and was usually written by someone not involved in the group.
Exactly, not sure why that is?
My thoughts exactly @stephenlutz3907. I noticed this too.
People tend to miss that Gary Puckett merely sang the song; the lyrics were written by Jerry Fuller. (As was often the case in 60s, groups were merely a vehicle for songs written by professional writers).
I was an innocent 14 year old when this song came out. I never thought about it in a sexual sense back then. Now, it screams jail bait to me. Still, a great song that first propelled them to the charts. This Girl is a Woman Now is another favorite.
Don W, I was also around that age and had a huge crush on one of my older male cousins and this was how he told me it wasn't going to happen. This was 1968, I was 14 and he was 17.😎😎😎😎
I grew up listening to all this classic music that you are reacting too. I never thought anything bad about it. Guess it was a much simpler innocent time. Now everything is given a bad meaning. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap had a lot of great songs such as "Woman, Woman", "Lady Willpower", "Over You", "Don't Give In to Him, & "This Girl Is a Woman Now". This music brings back good memories for me.
I agree times were so different. As a 16 year old who embroidered jeans for bands nobody thought I was wrong.
In the 60s in America . It was perfectly legal and considered normal in numerous states to marry young girls . This hit was on the radio all the time there was no thought or outrage for words in song . Your reaction goes with the change of time , it was 50 years ago . Great band great music . They had several other hits also . Check out Woman , Woman by Gary Puckett and the union gap too .
Gary had one of the best vocalists in pop music back then.
He has such a powerful voice, he made every song a force.
One of the most powerful live voices. Great singer.
One of the iconic rock voices. Fantastic song!
I loved their songs!! Memories of Junior High for me. Woman, Woman is another great song. So is Lady Willpower, Only You, & This Girl Is A Woman Now. Another group from that era, American Breed, had a great song, Bend Me, Shape Me. There were other songs by them, but basically a 1 hit wonder.
Bend Me Shape Me, that brings back memories too, I have their CD and yeah, I used to play that one over and over again.
@@shelter9236 second verse of the song is a perfect description of the biggest crush of my life that started the same year the song was released. It never became more than a crush, but to this day, that song reminds me of him. 😍
I was a preteen when they were popular, and I loved their music, still do!
Wow ,me too......listened to them on a transister radio and of course on records @ basement parties. He had such a great voice.
This girl is a woman now is my favorite
Do more gary pucket reactions?? "woman, woman" and "lady will power" are really good ones
Love it! Great song , great band! Excellent pick Harris 👍👍👍
OMGOSH!! WHAT MEMORIES! Gary Puckett was my all time favorite singer! He still has a good voice and does shows. It always bothers me when people act like the song is about a guy that is taking advantage of the girl, when in fact, HE is doing the right thing once he discovered that she was lying about her age!
I appreciate that you understood that and said so.
Gary Puckett is from the San Diego area. He and the Union Gap had several hit songs and then in 1970 he pursued a solo career as a singer. Among their hit songs was "Woman, Woman", "Lady Willpower", "Don't Give In to Him", and "Simple Man". You should check them all out. Gary's booming baritone voice was able to convey so much emotion! I look forward to seeing more of your reaction videos. I enjoy them!
"Go Away Little Girl" by Steve Lawrence (1963ish) was another song with a similar subject. Both were huge hits. Songs like this couldn't be written today.
I don't know why not--in a culture that accepts CUTIES and where the lefty pervs are trying to legitimize every other style of sickening deviant sexual behavior, legitimizing pedophilia is just the logical next step. It's coming. Just wait you'll see I'm right.
So was the Bobby Vee record "Come Back When You Grow Up Girl" released around 1969. But in all these songs the guy is telling the young girl it would be better if they kept their distance from each other. A better example of a famous older man/younger women song that is almost obscene and pornographic is the Stones' "Stray Cat Blues". Yet almost no one mentions it as offensive.
Funny. It's reality but it can't be addressed.
Great song--Puckett has a great voice!
I had a real crush on this guy's voice at the time, and still think it's very nice.
Another great song and group. He had a great voice.
This is a precautionary tale as old as the moon. Young guy looking for love finds someone who's convincing enough to be acting beyond their age. Once the guy realises, he reacts the way he should by categorically stating she's much too young and his love for her is, 'way out of line.' So, he knows he's had a lucky escape, but due to his growing affections, i.e. the sense of love he thought he had for her, he finds it hard to accept that the, 'love', he feels is based on a lie. The guy in question did the right thing by basically pushing her away from him for both of their sakes. There's nothing nefarious going on here. Other than the sensibilities of present year getting in the way of what was always seen as a song about a young, inexperienced guy being naïve to the point of not realising the girl he was wanting to get involved with being younger than he was led to believe.
I love this great group. This is such a taboo song.
He has a great voice. Dive into their catalog! Great pick and analysis Harri!
Yes Harri they are American. Gary Puckett was born in Minnesota. But they moved and he grew up in Yakima Washington State where I grew up. He got the name Union Gap from the suburb Union Gap next to Yakima. great selection and reaction as usual. God Bless my friend.
You can’t beat the old school singers.
This song is about Bull s cliton. NOT little hitlery.
Love that your reaction is almost 180 degrees different from most reactors. They are shocked that such a subject matter is even in a song and immediately think the singer did the deed. I agree with your analysis, Well crafted song with a well known subject matter at the time it was crafted. Excellent examples used to illustrate the point of the lyric.
Rock had a lot of songs like this, "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (which I think was actually an old blues song) and a lot of early rock was intentionally directed toward young teen girls.
One of the best voices in rock music. When I was in college I bought every one of their albums as soon as they came out. Over 50 years later and he's still out there performing. Also considered one of the nicest people in the business.
This is a great song well sung. It was a number one hit in Britain and I think also in America. Probably would be banned today - wrongly in my view.
Saw these guys in "'86 in Grand Haven Michigan along with the Monkees. Great memories hearing this.
Is it just a problem in Rock, or a fact of life? These were the teeny-bop years when pop music played to teen minors. I remember Teen Beat and Tiger Beat mags at the magazine stands. Still, the hispanic community plays largely into this with girls' quinceanera parties. And what about Maurice Chevallier's 'Thank Heaven For Little Girls' - he was not a pedophile, as far as I know. Where I grew up in a certain West Indies country there was no age limit on 'jailbait', rather a weight limit of 85 lbs, as if were sportfishing, seriously! You rightly pointed out that the singer is warning the girl off. Here's the most important thing to remember, WE CANNOT JUDGE PEOPLE IN THE PAST BY OUR STANDARDS OF THE PRESENT.
Wait, sexual consent was based on minimum weight of 85 pounds?? So if they caught someone in bed with a minor would they immediately weigh the child to see if s/he's legal?
My Mom grew up in the time of Maurice Chevalier and he always made her flesh crawl.
They also forget the very next line in the song. "For little girls get bigger every day.". He is talking about seeing them as future prospects. How much in the future might be debatable but laws and norms were different back then. Eighteen being the determining age for being an adult is a relatively new concept. Society was different then and we didn't need a formal education to get decent jobs or to run a household. New families normally were setting up their new households within the same community, so if the new family needed help or advice there were plenty of relatives around to give either. They were not really on their own.
Terrific vocal! And the subject matter is very serious. I appreciate that the story is told from the point of view of a man who has some ethics, and wants to do the right thing.
Ah Harri you've done it again this time you've dug up Garry Puckett and the Union Gap with "Young Girl" great song brings back memories of the Golden era for music the 60's and 70's keep it up Harri,you're knocking them dead,cheers🇦🇺
We live in an over sensitive and too easily offended world; it’s a song, enjoy the voice.
I was that young girl
My best friends and I sang and played in our local scene in 69. My boyfriend was older than me and was a Gary lookalike he sounded like home too he played drums for us seldom singing as he was shy.
Well when we played the girls screamed for him to sing.
One night out friend announced he would be singing that night.He sang this girl is a woman now.
Our friend then announced that we had married. I was 16 he was 19 55years married this year.
He still sings to me.
I met him when I was 12
This song was great back in my teen years love to sing it
She may be too young but his voice is absolutely velvet
One of my absolute favorite singers !!!!!!!
This man has an unusually great voice!!
You MUST react to Into the Night by Benny Mardones! First of all, the song and his voice are absolutely stunning. Secondly, the lyrics and the video are now unintentionally funny to those of us who have lived through the cultural changes. MUST WATCH THE VIDEO!
The song isn't that old - 1980, but it shows Benny Mardones at about 39 who is in love with a 16 year old girl and rolls his eyes when her father won't let him see her. So his solution is to creep by her bedroom's open window and entice her to get on a flying carpet so they can fly "Into the Night" together!
The comments section on TH-cam is so hilarious that it's reached almost legendary status. I go there sometimes just when I need a good laugh
This was so iconic at the time. It's all we talked about! Nothing else to do.
I wish he had also commented on the music, and vocals, and not just the lyrics meaning. The style was upbeat and different.
Hi Harri! Thanks for reacting to this song! It’s my favourite song from this group! Stay safe! Greetings from Australia.
Great group back in 67 68 69. 🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦
Gary Puckett Has A Beautiful Voice 💙
My sister had this song on a 45.
Thanks for your reaction. Music really triggers old memories.
Omg Harri! These songs are etched into my DNA😂. I was in my early teens when this was a big hit. I never stopped to think that this was borderline creepy 😂😂Great choice 🌺✌️
Me too, Debbie Chang 😂🤣😂🤣.
Loved this group’s sound though.
The strongest voice in popular music for that era and also the smoothest...
I love Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. I love their song Woman Woman
His last name is pronounced Puck it. Thanks for the the reaction, really took me back in time.
One of the first singles I ever bought...I wasn't quite 10 years old, and loved the music, despite not really understanding the lyrics. Remember this being a big hit at the time, but it was not a one-hit wonder...the band had at least 4 or 5 other charting songs that were also quite good.
Different times - meaning less hypocritical. I was 14 when I first went out with my first husband - he was 4 years older than me. Nobody 'groomed me', nobody (including my parents) had a problem with this . . . because most of my fellow 14 year old friends had older boyfriends too. Even the song is not talking about a 10 year old! Lovely song.
Gary Pucket (short u) and the Union Gap are an American band, but you were correct in that they were in competition with the "British Invasion" of the times. Great voice, good band, and several nice hits worth reactions. Thanks for this.
Can't date jail bate. Another great reaction, Harri, Thank's.
Another of the great bands of the 60's. I remember another song by the Lovin' Spoonful titled "Younger Girl" that has a young girl theme. Great group with lots more hits.
I was 14 and he was 17. Things were much more innocent back then. No cell phones or computers. How lovely! We’ve loved each other all these years, and it just gets better and deeper still. 😁❤️
check out "mitch ryder and the detriot wheels" song "devil with a blue dress on/good golly miss molly". also check out the groups "dave clark 5" and "paul revere and the raiders"...all from the same era as gary puckett...mid-late '60s.
I LUV GARY PUCKETT AND THE UNION GAP .... GARY HAS AN AMAZING VOICE .... PLEASE DO NOT TALK THE SONG OUT OF ITS PROPER CONTEX !!!! ...
THE SONG IS ACTUALLY SAYING THE GIRL IS TOO YOUNG, ALTHOUGH SHE TRYS TO PASS FOR OLDER! ... BUT HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO FALL INTO THAT TRAP!!!! ... AND TELLS HIMSELF! ... '' NO'' !!!! .... ITS AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE OF RIGHT AND WRONG! .. ITS A WARNING TO OTHERS ....
ITS ABOUT CHOICES: GOOD OR BAD YOU PAY !!!!
This is my favorite song EVER!🥰
First of all, if you pay attention, you realize she tricked him by appearing to be older-make up, dress.
When he finds out how young she is, he'd already fallen for her.
He is actually a stand up guy, who tells her nothing is going to come of the situation.
Happy Birthday Gary. 79 on 17 October.
I enjoy your show man, keep it going. Have a nice evening.
Please go further in with his band. Woman oh woman, lady willpower, this girl is a woman now. He has an amazing voice.
Pucket with a short U. They're dressed like Union soldiers from the Civil War.
Gary Puckett was born in Hibbing Minnesota but was raised in Yakima Washington Born in 1942, Gary came to San Diego in 1960 and attended San Diego city college In 1062 packed in his studies to pursue a career in musicAfter struggling for five years in 1967 The Union Gap was formed with Gary Puckett and Kerry Chater on Bass Dwight Bement on guitar and sax Paul Wheatbread on drums Gary mutha Withem on piano organ and sax. Gary left demos with every Studio in Los Angeles only Jerry Fuller at Columbia records was interested
I lived next door to his
Grandparents in
Pelican rapids Minnesota and I talked
To Gary and he was a
Very nice guy 😊😊
Beautiful crystal clear vocals had this on vynyl 45 rpm music to treasure
I live a couple miles from Union Gap, Washington
This happens to many men and it test the heart and soul. Love tests all ages and one can only hope that good prevails
when this song was a top ten hit in 1968, the times were much different than they are today-radio would play this all the time without any controversy or banishment from the airwaves-the powers that be were more concerned with drug references which in some cases were fruitless as many drug songs hit the airwaves and became hits anyway.
Go Away Little Girl by Donny Osmond in 1971 and Steve Lawrence back in 1963 is another perfect example-far more innocent age-today's society is just too jaded IMHO. If you lived back in the 50s and 60s and fast forward to today's societal norms-you would notice a drastic change of which I find that most are narrow and self righteous in view. In short, today's society needs to lighten up a bit and try to recapture some positivity and sense of humor.
The song was written by Jerry Fuller, who was not in the band but was their producer in the studio. Jerry also wrote 2 other big hits for them, "Lady Willpower" and "Over You."
Great song Harri :)
Beautiful Song 💓
Different time...different mores, and, AND you have to remember that most these guys were barely out of their teens themselves.
They were edgy back in the day. That's why some love them.
Gary had/has such a great voice and their harmonies are impeccable!!! I was only 7 when the song came out. I don't know how old I was when I first heard it but I was probably too young to know exactly what the song was all about.
Great Reaction Video Harri
Again, I appreciate your exploration of music. No one that I know of has done this song.
Tons of short good to great songs in the late 60's to early 70's.
Good job.
I Love This Song 💞
It's always seemed to me that the early sixties was obsessed with underage girls. Wyman did meet his wife at fourteen, he waited until she was nineteen to marry her, and they remained married until his death a few months ago. He was wise to wait and let her grow up. There were "sweet sixteen" songs, "Go away, little girl, I'm not supposed to be alone with you" songs, "girl, you're a woman now" (I think they did it in that song.)
I love it
Harri - the band were all dressed in uniforms of the Union Army, a la Civil War America, and their Band Name is 'The Union Gap'. Guess where they come from. I have liked this band since my pre teen years, and this track was the one that fist caught my ear.
'first caught my ear' that is. Also, another track of those that had a similar pull on me was 'Woman'. Cheers dude.
memories of long ago, great ones
The lyrics taken as a whole, explain everything! It was a top 5 hit in the U.S., Top 1 in the U.K. and Australia, a Gold record! The notion that it was advocating for something inappropriate is simply wrong. They played this song and " Lady Willpower" on the Ed Sullivan show to boot!
Benny Mardones had a hit song called "Into the Night" in which he literally doesn't care that she was too young. The official video is kinda creepy cause he is clearly much older. I remember a Beatles song where it talks about putting the woman in the ground rather than see her with another man. If these songs were written today they would probably be banned. But then again, rappers refer to women as hos and b###h's and they get a pass.
Oh you’re so right. Well said.
Very much like Neil Diamond's
"Girl You'll be a Woman Soon"
Strangely enough, almost every one of their hits was about sex. “Woman, Woman” with its chorus asking whether she has cheating on her mind, “Don’t Give In to Him,” “This Girl is a Woman Now,” and even “Lady Willpower.” Of course my favorite, “Over You” wasn’t.
I was only 9 the first time I heard Gary puckett and I thought I was in love with him, 😂. I never thought of anything naughty but I dreamed of a special kiss from him. Many years later I had my first kiss at 16 and it was a let down compared to my dreams.
When I thought about it years ago I just thought this guy loves women. No something we take for granted now days.
Hey Harri. Nubile young girls were a major theme in rock for years. Even the Beatles with “she was just seventeen, if you know what I mean” tapped on the line. Aside from that there are literally dozens of groups from the 60’s who turned in some great pieces of music. The Union Gap were pretty damn good, but they weren’t alone. Here are a few more suggestions Harri, all American, except for the EasyBeats, all important in pop music history for one reason or another, Enjoy:
Jay and the Americans - “Cara Mia’ th-cam.com/video/1sFy5_kmEi4/w-d-xo.html or “Come a Little Bit Closer’ th-cam.com/video/D_W0Uu4Mua0/w-d-xo.html
Tommy James and the Shondells - “I Think We’re Alone Now” th-cam.com/video/hFWhTqLSVzE/w-d-xo.html or “Mony Mony” th-cam.com/video/pkMgs3lFwkQ/w-d-xo.html
The EasyBeats - ( the roots of AC/DC) ‘Friday On My Mind” th-cam.com/video/dnqxbdnzlhw/w-d-xo.html
The Left Bank - ‘Walk Away Renee’ th-cam.com/video/6uqBTzfcIk4/w-d-xo.html
The Association - ‘Never My Love’ th-cam.com/video/rI8hS6IystA/w-d-xo.html or ‘Cherish” th-cam.com/video/TFGEWffXR5A/w-d-xo.html
The Box Tops - “The Letter” ( Alex Chilton to later form the cult group Big Star later ) th-cam.com/video/HIWY8UyW9bw/w-d-xo.html
The Byrds - ( One of the most important groups in music history) ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ th-cam.com/video/PnstCrL1_e0/w-d-xo.html or “Turn, Turn, Turn” th-cam.com/video/W3xgcmIS3YU/w-d-xo.html
The Buffalo Springfield - ( Another crucial American group ) ‘For What Its Worth’ th-cam.com/video/gp5JCrSXkJY/w-d-xo.html
BY THE WAY FACTS !!!! GARY DID '' NOT '' WRITE THIS SONG !!!!!! ... A SINGER SONGWRITER DID !!!! .... FACTS ARE IMPORTANT! ...
Jerry Fuller "Young Girl" is a RIAA million-selling Gold-certified single that was written, composed, and produced by Jerry Fuller
and performed by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap with instrumental backing by members of " The Wrecking Crew." It was released in 1968.
It was a different world back then. This song never raised any eyebrows back then, only now. Only Sixteen - Sam Cooke, You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and You're Mine) Johnny Burnette and later Ringo Starr. I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles. "She was just 17 you know what I mean." and many more.
It was a different time when song was on the radio.
I LOVE THAT SONG 💘💘💘💘
A good friend was a roadie for Mr. Puckett. He quit because he had a hard time dealing with the singer's predilections for young women.
To echo what Maya Nightwolf said Jerry Fuller wrote and produced Young Girl, over you and Lady Willpower. At a concert in agoura Hills California in 2019 Jerry Fuller came on stage and sang Young Girl. Jerry said he was at the Monterey pop festival in 1967 on his way home he picked up several teenagers. One girl seemed to like Jerry He came to his senses. And took all the girls home Talbots the story. From Jerry Fuller as of 2019 Gary Puckett was still singing the song
Gary Pucket & The Union Gap/Over You studio version
"Young Girl" was the very first album I ever owned - given as a present for my 12th birthday (in 1968) . I played it and OVER played it - NEVER caught the connotation back then of illicit love. At that age, at that particular time, love was an emotion, not necessarily a physical expression - at least I didn't see it that way. Years later, I looked back at Gary Puckett's works, and sort of noticed a thread of "sleaze" in his original hits, hidden behind the soft rock and his golden tone. I tried to listen to him more recently, got some of his more recent "concerts," and he sounded more like a cheap lounge singer.
Also check out “Younger Girl” (1966) by the Hondells (my favorite version, but it was also done by the Critters and the Lovin’ Spoonful). Just a few songs that directly concern teen girls are “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry, “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette, and “Hey Little Girl” by Dee Clark. No surprise that it's a common theme in early rock & roll, since the music was mostly intended for teenagers, while many of the singers were a bit older.
You really have to dig deep to find some great tracks by this group. I really got into this group when my concert choir teacher freshman year told me when I sang it reminded her of Gary Puckett. And I sang "This Girl is a Woman Now" in a talent show during homecoming that year.
Gary Puckett himself said, "She lied about her age. He found out she is younger then what she said, so he pushed her away. It doesn't mean jail bait, but younger then what she said.
I was 13 in 72 I was rather wild I could easily get into pubs and music venues lied to men about age no one could tell me what to do
we could do a whole list of songs like this
Donny Osmond "Go Away Little Girl"
The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me"
Ringo Starr "You're 16 , You're Beautiful and you're Mine"
Ted Nugent : "Jailbait"
I'll have to listen to Ringo's version of You're 16, You're Beautiful and You are Mine. The only version I have ever heard was by Johnny Burnette and his was back in 1960. Burnette was the original singer and his "hit #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100s in 1960 and #3 in the UK in 1961".
Bro pls do more Gary Puckett and the Union Gap videos, I'm going through a phase right now
You also need to realize that a lot of music in that day and age was produced to sell 45 rpm records. And who bought the 45's? Young girls.
Happened in every day life back then too.