"65 Roses" is a 2001 song about cystic fibrosis written and performed by Australian singer Lee J Collier. The song is about a young girl who cannot pronounce "cystic fibrosis", instead calling it "sixty-five roses", only to learn the correct pronunciation when she grows older. The song won Collier the New Songwriters Award at the 2002 Tamworth Songwriters Awards.
Australian band Wolverines recorded the song the same year, with a few lyric changes, and released it as a single. Due to promotional complications between LJ Hooker (a sponsor of Cystic Fibrosis Australia) and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the song peaked at only number 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart in July. A re-release in 2002 failed to make a significant impact in Australia, but in New Zealand, the single reached number one in May, becoming the band's only hit outside Australia.
"65 Roses" was written by Australian singer Lee J Collier in 2001.[1] The song is about a young girl who is told by her parents that her older sister has cystic fibrosis. However, she misunderstands the condition's name and calls it "sixty-five roses" instead.[1] This leads her to believe that flowers are causing her sister's fatigue and breathlessness, which baffles her. When she gets older, she finally begins to understand her sister has "cystic fibrosis", not "sixty-five roses", and why her parents were teary-eyed when they told her about the condition. Realizing the truth, the girl wishes her sister had roses instead.[1]
Collier's original version was praised by many organisations and she received numerous awards, including the Tamworth Songwriters Association Award for Songwriter of the Year and Contemporary Country Song of the Year, in 2002.[1][2] The song was later included on her album Don't Call Me Madam or I'll Send You An Invoice!, and she has performed the song at many cystic fibrosis fundraisers.[1]
Shortly after Collier released "65 Roses", John Clinton, vocalist and drummer of Australian country rock band Wolverines, decided to record a cover of the song due to his sister (and most of his family) suffering from cystic fibrosis. A few of the lyrics were changed, and the narrator of the song is now a boy.[4] It too was released in 2001, on 18 June, with Clinton intending to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. In 2002 the song appeared on their album Wolverines & Roses.
Charting controversy
Although the cover became a big hit in Australia, it quickly encountered a few problems that prevented it from entering the upper reaches of Australia's official music chart, the ARIA Singles Chart. Clinton believed one of the reasons the song underperformed was because someone from a major record label complained about the song and the band to ARIA, although he was unsure of who did it.[4]
The second reason "65 Roses" stalled inside the top 30 was due to a technicality in ARIA's chart methodology. The song received support from LJ Hooker, an Australian real estate group that also sponsors Cystic Fibrosis Australia.[4] Due to the group's heavy involvement in the single's promotion, including sending memos to its other major franchises encouraging them to buy the single, ARIA treated this as insider trading, so any sales involving these organisations did not register on the ARIA Singles Chart, greatly upsetting Clinton and Cystic Fibrosis Australia's chief executive at the time, Terry Stewart.[4] As a result of these neglected sales, "65 Roses" reached no higher than number 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart and spent only three weeks in the top 50.[5]
Chart performance
The Wolverines' version of "65 Roses" debuted on the ARIA Charts at number 38 on 15 July 2001. The next week, the single rose 13 places to number 25, then reached its peak of number 23 the following week. However, as a possible result of the song's disregarded sales following the involvement of LJ Hooker, it dropped out of the chart on 5 August.[5]
"65 Roses" was re-released in 2002, but it did not replicate the success of the original release in Australia, stalling at number 95 in February.[6] In New Zealand, however, the single debuted at number one on the RIANZ Singles Chart on the week of 26 May, becoming the only Wolverines song to experience success outside Australia. It dropped to number 40 after peaking, then left the chart altogether.[7] The song has received a Gold certification in both Australia and New Zealand.[8][9]
^"Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
^"The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th June 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 18 June 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
^John (17 January 2019). "2002 Country Music Awards Winners". Alldownunder. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
August 23, 2023
roses, song, roses, 2001, song, about, cystic, fibrosis, written, performed, australian, singer, collier, song, about, young, girl, cannot, pronounce, cystic, fibrosis, instead, calling, sixty, five, roses, only, learn, correct, pronunciation, when, grows, old. 65 Roses is a 2001 song about cystic fibrosis written and performed by Australian singer Lee J Collier The song is about a young girl who cannot pronounce cystic fibrosis instead calling it sixty five roses only to learn the correct pronunciation when she grows older The song won Collier the New Songwriters Award at the 2002 Tamworth Songwriters Awards 65 Roses Song by Lee J Collierfrom the album Don t Call Me Madam or I ll Send You an Invoice Released2001Recorded2001GenreCountry 1 Songwriter s Lee J CollierAustralian band Wolverines recorded the song the same year with a few lyric changes and released it as a single Due to promotional complications between LJ Hooker a sponsor of Cystic Fibrosis Australia and the Australian Recording Industry Association ARIA the song peaked at only number 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart in July A re release in 2002 failed to make a significant impact in Australia but in New Zealand the single reached number one in May becoming the band s only hit outside Australia Contents 1 Background and lyrics 2 Wolverines version 2 1 Charting controversy 2 2 Chart performance 2 3 Awards and nominations 2 4 Charts and certifications 2 4 1 Weekly charts 2 4 2 Certifications 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground and lyrics Edit 65 Roses was written by Australian singer Lee J Collier in 2001 1 The song is about a young girl who is told by her parents that her older sister has cystic fibrosis However she misunderstands the condition s name and calls it sixty five roses instead 1 This leads her to believe that flowers are causing her sister s fatigue and breathlessness which baffles her When she gets older she finally begins to understand her sister has cystic fibrosis not sixty five roses and why her parents were teary eyed when they told her about the condition Realizing the truth the girl wishes her sister had roses instead 1 Collier s original version was praised by many organisations and she received numerous awards including the Tamworth Songwriters Association Award for Songwriter of the Year and Contemporary Country Song of the Year in 2002 1 2 The song was later included on her album Don t Call Me Madam or I ll Send You An Invoice and she has performed the song at many cystic fibrosis fundraisers 1 Wolverines version Edit 65 Roses Single by Wolverinesfrom the album Wolverines amp RosesReleased18 June 2001 2001 06 18 3 Recorded2001GenreCountry rockLength4 21LabelCapitol EMISongwriter s Lee J Collier Wolverines 4 Producer s WolverinesShortly after Collier released 65 Roses John Clinton vocalist and drummer of Australian country rock band Wolverines decided to record a cover of the song due to his sister and most of his family suffering from cystic fibrosis A few of the lyrics were changed and the narrator of the song is now a boy 4 It too was released in 2001 on 18 June with Clinton intending to raise money for cystic fibrosis research In 2002 the song appeared on their album Wolverines amp Roses Charting controversy Edit Although the cover became a big hit in Australia it quickly encountered a few problems that prevented it from entering the upper reaches of Australia s official music chart the ARIA Singles Chart Clinton believed one of the reasons the song underperformed was because someone from a major record label complained about the song and the band to ARIA although he was unsure of who did it 4 The second reason 65 Roses stalled inside the top 30 was due to a technicality in ARIA s chart methodology The song received support from LJ Hooker an Australian real estate group that also sponsors Cystic Fibrosis Australia 4 Due to the group s heavy involvement in the single s promotion including sending memos to its other major franchises encouraging them to buy the single ARIA treated this as insider trading so any sales involving these organisations did not register on the ARIA Singles Chart greatly upsetting Clinton and Cystic Fibrosis Australia s chief executive at the time Terry Stewart 4 As a result of these neglected sales 65 Roses reached no higher than number 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart and spent only three weeks in the top 50 5 Chart performance Edit The Wolverines version of 65 Roses debuted on the ARIA Charts at number 38 on 15 July 2001 The next week the single rose 13 places to number 25 then reached its peak of number 23 the following week However as a possible result of the song s disregarded sales following the involvement of LJ Hooker it dropped out of the chart on 5 August 5 65 Roses was re released in 2002 but it did not replicate the success of the original release in Australia stalling at number 95 in February 6 In New Zealand however the single debuted at number one on the RIANZ Singles Chart on the week of 26 May becoming the only Wolverines song to experience success outside Australia It dropped to number 40 after peaking then left the chart altogether 7 The song has received a Gold certification in both Australia and New Zealand 8 9 Awards and nominations Edit Year Nominee work Award Result2002 APRA Music Awards of 2002 Most Performed Country Work Nominated 10 Golden Guitar Awards of 2002 Vocal Group or Duo of the Year Won 11 Charts and certifications Edit Weekly charts Edit Chart 2001 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 5 23Chart 2002 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 6 95New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 7 1 Certifications Edit Region Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 8 Gold 35 000 New Zealand RMNZ 9 Gold 5 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone See also EditCystic fibrosis List of number one singles from the 2000s New Zealand References Edit a b c d e f Lee J Collier 65 Roses Angelfire Retrieved 7 February 2019 Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners Tamworth Songwriters Association Online Retrieved 23 March 2022 The ARIA Report ARIA New Releases Singles Week Commencing 18th June 2001 PDF ARIA 18 June 2001 p 24 Archived from the original PDF on 20 February 2002 Retrieved 21 April 2021 a b c d e ARIA boots 65 Roses off the charts Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2 August 2001 Retrieved 7 February 2019 a b c Wolverines 65 Roses ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved 7 February 2019 a b Issue 623 ARIA Top 100 Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved 21 April 2021 a b Wolverines 65 Roses Top 40 Singles Retrieved 7 February 2019 a b ARIA Charts Accreditations 2001 Singles PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved 7 February 2019 a b New Zealand single certifications Wolverines 65 Roses Recorded Music NZ Retrieved 7 February 2019 Most Performed Country Work Australasian Performing Right Association Archived from the original on 27 June 2020 Retrieved 7 February 2019 John 17 January 2019 2002 Country Music Awards Winners Alldownunder Retrieved 7 February 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 65 Roses song amp oldid 1078795878, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
