"Ariel" is a hit single written and performed by Dean Friedman, released in April 1977. It was the first of two hits from Friedman's eponymous debut LP. "Ariel," however, was his only hit in North America. It reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 on the Cashbox Top 100,[1] and number 19 in Canada. The song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard chart and 24 weeks on Cashbox.
"Ariel" has been described as a "quirkily irresistible and uncategorizable pop song about a free-spirited, music-loving, vegetarian Jewish girl"[2] from Paramus, New Jersey, where Friedman grew up. The lyrics describe the young girl from "deep in the bosom of suburbia," who sang "mighty fine," with "'Tears on My Pillow' and 'Ave Maria'." It describes the girl Ariel, "standing by the [since dismantled] waterfall at Paramus Park," one of the many shopping malls in Paramus. The quarters she was collecting for "friends of BAI" refers to the New York radio station WBAI, and their listener association,[3] while the song also makes reference to "channel 2", which refers to local CBS flagship station WCBS-TV.
Chicago radio superstation WLS, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "Ariel" as the 60th most popular hit of 1977.[4] It reached as high as number four on their survey of August 20, 1977.[5]
Controversyedit
The record label (Lifesong) that produced "Ariel" insisted Friedman change the song's second verse, which refers to the eponymous Ariel as "a Jewish girl", believing that radio stations might use it as an excuse not to play the record.[6] The management company received threats from the Jewish Defense League protesting against the edit in the single, which also varied from the album version by having the third verse removed to make the single shorter for radio.[7]
ariel, song, other, songs, ariel, ariel, single, written, performed, dean, friedman, released, april, 1977, first, hits, from, friedman, eponymous, debut, ariel, however, only, north, america, reached, number, billboard, chart, number, cashbox, number, canada,. For other songs see Ariel Ariel is a hit single written and performed by Dean Friedman released in April 1977 It was the first of two hits from Friedman s eponymous debut LP Ariel however was his only hit in North America It reached number 26 on the U S Billboard Hot 100 chart number 17 on the Cashbox Top 100 1 and number 19 in Canada The song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard chart and 24 weeks on Cashbox Ariel Side A of the US singleSingle by Dean Friedmanfrom the album Dean FriedmanB side Funny Papers ReleasedApril 1977GenreSoft rockLength3 22 single version 4 22 album version LabelLifesongSongwriter s Dean FriedmanProducer s Rob StevensDean Friedman singles chronology Ariel 1977 Woman of Mine 1977 Contents 1 Background 2 Controversy 3 Chart performance 3 1 Weekly charts 3 2 Year end charts 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground edit Ariel has been described as a quirkily irresistible and uncategorizable pop song about a free spirited music loving vegetarian Jewish girl 2 from Paramus New Jersey where Friedman grew up The lyrics describe the young girl from deep in the bosom of suburbia who sang mighty fine with Tears on My Pillow and Ave Maria It describes the girl Ariel standing by the since dismantled waterfall at Paramus Park one of the many shopping malls in Paramus The quarters she was collecting for friends of BAI refers to the New York radio station WBAI and their listener association 3 while the song also makes reference to channel 2 which refers to local CBS flagship station WCBS TV Chicago radio superstation WLS which gave the song much airplay ranked Ariel as the 60th most popular hit of 1977 4 It reached as high as number four on their survey of August 20 1977 5 Controversy editThe record label Lifesong that produced Ariel insisted Friedman change the song s second verse which refers to the eponymous Ariel as a Jewish girl believing that radio stations might use it as an excuse not to play the record 6 The management company received threats from the Jewish Defense League protesting against the edit in the single which also varied from the album version by having the third verse removed to make the single shorter for radio 7 Chart performance editWeekly charts edit Chart 1977 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 8 91Canada RPM Top Singles 9 19New Zealand RIANZ 10 19U S Billboard Hot 100 11 26U S Cash Box Top 100 12 17 Year end charts edit Chart 1977 RankCanada 13 148U S Billboard Hot 100 14 69U S Cash Box 15 92See also editList of 1970s one hit wonders in the United StatesReferences edit Top 100 1977 08 06 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved 2015 06 12 Bio www deanfriedman com Retrieved 2018 02 15 Newsletter August 1995 Deanfriedman com Retrieved 2014 08 06 The WLS Big 89 of 1977 Wlshistory com Retrieved 2015 05 02 wls082077 Oldiesloon com August 20 1977 Dean Friedman Ariel They re Playing My Song www songfacts com Retrieved 2018 02 15 Dean Friedman FAQS Q Are there two different versions of Ariel www deanfriedman com Retrieved 2019 06 07 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 114 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Retrieved 2015 05 02 Steffen Hung Dean Friedman Ariel charts nz Retrieved 2015 05 02 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 ISBN 0 89820 089 X Top 100 1977 08 06 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved 2015 06 12 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada gc ca Retrieved 2015 05 02 Top 100 Hits of 1977 Top 100 Songs of 1977 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved 2015 05 02 Cash Box YE Pop Singles 1977 cashboxmagazine com 1977 12 31 Archived from the original on 2010 12 13 Retrieved 2015 05 02 External links editLyrics to Ariel Ariel on Song Facts Listen to Ariel on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ariel song amp oldid 1157729897, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
